VSU Kicks off Monthly Blood Drives

VALDOSTA -- The Valdosta State University community will participate in a blood drive from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 16, in the Student Union, meeting room 1A & B.

The event is the first of a series of blood drives that will resume in the fall semester. The drives will be held from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. on the last Tuesday of each month in the Student Union -- with the first drive to be held on Tuesday, August 31. Various organizations have already signed up to sponsor a monthly drive; the annual Beat West Georgia VSU Blood Drive, for instance, will be Tuesday, October 26.

“The goal for VSU is to have the drives at the same day, time, and location each month to offer some consistency,” said Ann Lacey, director of Volunteer Services and Parents Programs. “The ultimate goal is to get as many pints of blood as possible.”

The Student Union Reservations Office and the Office for Volunteer Services and Parents Programs, in conjunction with the American Red Cross, established the ongoing drive to increase awareness of ongoing blood shortages and enable faculty, staff and students to conveniently donate. Willing donors are encouraged to make a reservation online at www.valdosta.edu/stulife/volunteer/BloodDrive , but walk-in donors are accepted.

According to the American Red Cross, someone in the United States needs blood every two seconds, and each donation of blood saves up to three lives. The entire blood donation process, from registration to refreshments, takes about 15 minutes; and the average person may donate blood every 56 days. For more statistics and tips about blood donation, go to www.redcrossblood.org .

For more information about the VSU drive, e-mail Ann Lacey, director of Volunteer Services and Parents Programs, at aelacey@valdosta.edu or call her at 229-259-2514.