Plenty of students and staff participated in the annual Blood Drive in the North Gym sponsored by Student Council and Community Blood Services.

On Friday the 15th, anyone over 16 years of age was allowed to participate in the Blood Drive. Most commonly, students give one pint of blood followed by snacks, water, and rest. However, students 17 and over, are eligible to use the machine called “Alex.”  Alex takes the red blood cells out of the blood and returns the remaining fluids back into your body.

Donated blood is then sent to a lab and is tested for anything potentially harmful. After the blood is tested, it is distributed to 26 hospitals in New Jersey. The blood is then transferred to needy patients.

Students; Darden Veseli, Bader Bahlwan, and Jordan Nosenchuck are among the hundreds who donated last friday.

 “After the assembly about the blood drive, we felt obligated to be a part of this event […] getting to miss class, get free food, and be with my other friends in the gym seemed too good to be true,” said Veseli.