MEDFIELD — Superintendent Jeffrey J. Marsden and Principal Nat Vaughn are pleased to share that Blake Middle School will hold its 10th annual blood drive in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day this month.
Blake Middle School has organized its annual blood drive on MLK Day each year for the past 10 years in conjunction with the school’s “Day of Service” events.
The blood drive will be held on Monday, Jan. 15, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Blake Middle School gymnasium.
The Blake Middle School blood drive is coordinated by a blood drive committee comprised of Blake students and high school alumni and overseen by social studies teacher Cynthia McClelland. This year, the committee includes 20 middle school students and eight high school students who have been meeting weekly since October to plan for the event.
The committee works in the months before the blood drive to recruit donors by making signs, posters and presentations that encourage fellow eligible students to sign up, as well as talk to their family members about donating. Committee members also follow up on all appointments that are made to ensure donors know they have a spot in the day’s donation schedule.
The student committee then helps with the day-of organization through tasks such as setting up a childcare center, bringing in baked goods for the refreshment and recovery area, and making thank-you cards for donors. Student volunteers are also trained on how to sign in and keep track of incoming donors.
“We are proud to have a high first-time donor rate and it is our hope that we are fostering a pride in donating within our students so that we can create a pool of people who donate blood often,” McClelland said. “Our student volunteers do an amazing job each year finding donors and running the event, and this event would not be successful without their hard work, commitment and passion for helping others.”
Added Principal Vaughn, “We are proud to be on our 10th year of hosting this blood drive as part of our Day of Service events and are so appreciative of the Medfield community and their willingness to donate each year.”
The sign-up for Blake Middle School’s Blood Drive can be found by visiting redcrossblood.org/give and entering the sponsor code “Blake Middle School.” Appointments are required.
In Massachusetts, a 16-year-old may donate blood but is required to have a consent form signed by a parent or legal guardian before donating. To learn more about eligibility requirements, click here.
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