Although a few do not meet the age requirements of a blood donor, members of the East Peoria High School Student Leadership Team took it upon themselves to sponsor one hour during the upcoming 12 Hours of Giving Blood Drive.
Their goal: get 100 people to donate blood.
“We decided it was a good idea,” said Mackenzie Craig, a senior. “We’re really excited. We think it will go really well.”
“We want to go above and beyond,” added senior Nicole Mansfield.
The American Red Cross sixth annual blood drive will take place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 21 at the Par-A-Dice Hotel.
For the first time, 12 local organizations will each sponsor an hour. The Student Leadership Team will sponsor the 5 to 6 p.m. hour.
The six girls on the team said they have promoted the event on the social networking Web sites, Facebook and MySpace. They will even give out tie-dyed maroon and gold T-shirts to those who donate blood during their time slot, they added.
“Everyone is pretty psyched about it,” Craig said.
Gyasi Barnwell, sophomore, said the group planned the event without the supervision of the adults. Their teacher Marty Green, who is also a board member with the Red Cross, presented the idea to them, and they took the reins from there.
“It’s just a really good cause,” Barnwell said. “It’s such a simple thing.”
Green said the fact that the students are sponsoring an hour — during finals, for many — is a testimony to their devotion.
“The community and our school are very proud of them,” Green said.
Karen Stecher, spokeswoman with the American Red Cross Central Illinois Chapter, said the high school group is the only sponsorship in which youth are taking the lead.
“It’s really important for us to have students involved,” she said. “Here they are ensuring there are sufficient blood supplies, but many are not even old enough to donate. But, they’re old enough to understand the importance of the mission.”
Stecher and other Red Cross officials officially kicked off the blood drive Friday morning at the Par-A-Dice Hotel.
Stecher stressed the need for blood donors this holiday season is great because many people get too busy and do not donate.
“This is a great time for people to come out, donate and help save a life,” she said.
Also at the blood drive this year, people can purchase a fleece blanket for a local disaster victim. The cost is $5, and people can fill out a card with a personal message.
A lineup of music and other entertainment will perform throughout the day, such as Bogside Zukes.
Other area organizations sponsoring an hour are the Fondulac Banking Center, who will sponsor the 8 to 9 a.m. hour and the East Peoria Kiwanis Club, who will sponsor the 6 to 7 p.m. hour.
For more information, call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE, or visit givebloodgivelife.org.
