The Red Cross Club hosted its annual blood drive on Thursday, March 1, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the dance room. Students volunteered to donate their blood by signing up prior to the event.
“We invite Red Cross administrators and workers alike to help host the blood drive, in which participating students can come and get their blood drawn,” said senior Sidona Asmelash, co-president of the Red Cross Club.
Students under 17 years old had to provide a form with their parents’ permission—all students were asked to provide a form of identification, such as showing their driver’s license.
“It’s really simple,” junior Katrina Kanthraj said. “It’s an easy check-in and then [the Red Cross staff] are super kind and friendly.”
After students entered the dance room, they scanned a QR code to register in the blood donor portal and answer some questions. Afterwards, they waited until one of the Red Cross staff members called their name.
“When their name gets called, they’ll get their hemoglobin and blood levels checked and anything else that might eliminate them from being able to get their blood drawn,” Asmlash said.
During the first hours of the blood drive, many students were unable to donate blood to the Red Cross due to low iron levels, small veins that made inserting a needle virtually impossible or not meeting the 110-lbs. weight requirement.
“[The U.S.] is actually having a bit of a blood shortage. right now for blood donations,” said physics teacher Sean Jones, the sponsor of the Red Cross Club. “The reason it’s so important [to donate blood] is that we’re not able to fill our hospitals and all of the things we need donated blood for, so it’s really important to get as many people to donate [blood] as we can.”
In January 2026, the American Red Cross reported a severe blood shortage in the nation after the blood supply fell by 35% in the preceding month. The shortage resulted from a combination of factors, most notably a flu outbreak in the U.S., severe winter weather and fewer blood volunteers.
This year, the Red Cross Club at Mclean gathered more than 40 volunteers to donate blood in the span of 5 hours. Members took turns to help volunteers set up and regain their energy.
“The club worked in organizing [the blood drive], making sure that the room was set up and that all the scenes were in the right spot,” Jones said. “They were constantly coordinating to do all of it [and] I was just really impressed with them [because] I didn’t really have to do much.”
The club hopes that their efforts helped alleviate the blood shortage.
“It’s important [to donate blood] because we’re contributing to a greater effort,” Asmelash said. “The blood goes to patients all around the country and with a blood shortage going on right now, it’s really important [to donate blood].”
