Hundreds Turn Out for Barnesville High School ‘Blood Bash’
Carri Graham Trending
BARNESVILLE -- More than 550 donors came out to give blood Friday during Barnesville High School's annual Blood Bash.
It was a busy day at the school as students, staff and residents donated blood throughout the day. Principal Ron Clark said they had a great turnout with around 550 people registered and more walking in to give blood.
"The past two years have been hit and miss because of COVID, but I think the most we've ever gotten was 560 donors. So we're pretty close to that," he said, adding that organizers will not know the total number of donors that participated on Friday for a couple days.
Clark said there is a big need in the area for blood, which is what has prompted the school to assist each year. The blood drive is run by high school students and instills the importance of community service.
Clark said each student is encouraged to recruit at least two people to donate blood. Those who are successful at signing up donors are able to participate in field activities, while others are able to volunteer and help out during the drive. A few of those students were 15-year-olds Kyle Moore, Payton Dudzik and Avis Suobutka and 14-year-old Lexi Grear. The girls said they were happy to help with the drive, providing donors with drinks, snacks and assistance.
"We make sure everyone knows where they're going and make sure they're OK after they give blood and don't pass out," Dudzik said.
Every year the school partners with Vitalant, a nonprofit organization that assists the school with the drive. Clark said through the organization, 100% of the donations go to local hospitals like WVU Medicine Barnesville Hospital, WVU Medicine Harrison Community Hospital, WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital and WVU Medicine Reynolds Memorial Hospital.
"Sometimes when people donate blood with various organizations, those are taken to cities where they're needed and the local communities are left asking for blood to come in, whereas when you donate with Vitalant in the local area the local hospitals will benefit from this," he said.
Cathy Ryan, donor recruitment manager for Vitalant, said every donation will help as many as three people.
"So more than 1,500 people will be helped from today's blood drive, and this will really help with the Memorial Day holiday when donations tend to go down,'' she said.
Ryan said they are thrilled with the effort of the students who helped recruit hundreds of donors.
"It's just amazing. After a two-year hiatus, because we didn't get to have one at all in 2020 and then last year we did come but it was a reduced event, so we are just thrilled that we were back to the Barnesville Blood Bash," she said.
Heather Eberhart, a teacher at the school, gave blood during the event. She said her parents have experienced a lot of medical problems and have received numerous blood transfusions, which is why she wanted to give.
"I just want to do what I can to help," she added.
High school junior Malaika Peterson, 16, said Friday was her second time donating blood this year. She said she really likes giving back.
"It helps because I'm O-positive so I can give to anyone,'' she said.
Through the event, around 40,000 people's lives have been saved through donations given over the years.
The blood drive was held from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the high school gymnasium.