Every 2-3 seconds, someone needs a pint of blood. Yesterday, we celebrated the 19th Annual Homecoming Blood Drive at Appalachian State University, a program we are happy to host by promoting awareness and encouraging participation from community members, staff, faculty, and students. Our goal is to reinforce our commitment to community engagement and collective well-being by continuing this initiative each semester as we are able. Through collaborative event planning and community partnership, the Office of Community-Engaged Leadership and the American Red Cross hosted this blood drive together.
We are happy to report that local residents and students were ready to saddle up and save a life this year. This bi-yearly initiative not only helps replenish critical blood supplies but also foster a culture of civic responsibility and service. With the help of 40+ volunteers, the American Red Cross Staff, and 350 donors, we were able to collect 407 units of blood over the course of this one-day drive.
Brent James, Assistant Director in the Office of Community-Engaged Leadership and co-organizer of this event, expressed the importance of an event like this. “It’s a mix of something you can do locally, at your job and close to you, that can have a national impact. It’s a chance to connect with people you don’t get to see often.”
Appalachian State University’s Homecoming Blood Drives are one of the largest single-day, single-site blood drives in the nation. This drive included free refreshments, volunteer opportunities, a chance to earn homecoming points for organizations registered to compete, and a free t-shirt for those who donated!
Planning for the next blood drive is already in the works. We are so excited to host another in the Spring of 2026. For more information on how to donate in future drives, visit the American Red Cross or CELs websites!