Thanks to the unselfishness of the campus and community, Penn State New Kensington donated 45 units of blood during the semiannual blood drive on Oct. 23.
Students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends showed that the blue and white of Penn State could bleed red for the community. The donations helped increase the blood supply in the local community in the Alle-Kiski Valley.
The staff of the Allegheny Valley Hospital Blood Bank collected and stored the blood that will be used by local hospitals.Debbi Kaminski, donor recruit coordinator for the hospital, has headed the campus’ semiannual blood drives for the past 10 years. Kaminski is mindful of balancing the importance of donations with the needs of the donors.
“Blood is the one product that cannot be manufactured,” said Kaminski. “We need donors. My goal is for every person that donates to have a good experience.”
Junior Will Nichols, of Plum Borough, was a first-time blood donor. According to Nichols, he never donated before because “needles just aren’t my thing.” His experience has altered that perception.
“It went really well,” Nichols said. “They made me feel comfortable and there was minimal pain.”
Since 2006, the campus community and alumni have donated more than 700 units of blood to Allegheny Valley Hospital. The blood drive was made possible through the efforts of donors, canteen volunteers and Elaine Zarichnak, the campus nurse.
The next campus blood drive is in April. Donors are eligible again in 56 days after giving, so the campus community doesn't have to wait until the spring drive to give blood.
(Chelsea Markle, a senior communications major and intern in the Alumni and Public Relations office, conducted the interviews and co-authored the story.)