UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The American Red Cross of State College is holding a summer blood drive challenge between Penn State’s academic colleges and departments on the University Park campus.
The challenge runs from June 1 to July 31 and features colleges competing with colleges and departments competing with departments. Participating departments and colleges will be hosting a blood drive during the competition time frame where they will try to get as many blood donations as possible.
The college and department who recruit the most donors will receive a trophy. In addition, all presenting donors will receive a free t-shirt, while supplies last.
If donors are unable to donate during their college or department’s sponsored blood drive for any reason, donors can donate at any blood drive on campus during the challenge and credit their college or department with that donation.
The American Red Cross reports that, although the need for blood is constant, donations tend to go down during the summer months with schools out of session and people going on vacations and being busy with other summer activities. Blood drives see about 33 percent fewer donors during the summer compared to other times of the year. While 38 percent of the population is eligible to donate blood, less than 10 percent actually do. Accident victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients and those battling cancer all need blood transfusions. In the United States, someone needs blood every two seconds.
Appointments are strongly encouraged and walk-ins are welcome. Potential donors can make an appointment today on the Red Cross Blood Donor app, go to redcrossblood.org or email abby.young@redcross.org.
For more information on the blood drive challenge, contact Melissa Wolf at 814-659-5139, or email her at Melissa.wolf@redcross.org.