Student members of the Scrubs Club at John Hersey High School in Arlington Heights are hosting a virtual blood drive cooperation with Vitalant – formerly LifeSource – now through November 27.
Science teacher Kelley Pataky, one of the coordinators for the club, said the Scrubs Club includes about 225 students, most in Hersey’s health science curriculum or otherwise interested in careers in the field
This is the third year for the club to host a blood drive. In pre-pandemic days, that involved organizing and setting up in the school gym for on-site blood donations. Pataky said the last two onsite drives have each drawn about 85 blood donors.
“Virtually, we can still host,” Pataky said. “We are advertising, we are inviting anyone in the community 16 and older.”
The actual donations, however, are not virtual, but take place at one of Vitalant’s area locations, including one in Arlington Heights. Donors register and make appointments either online at www.vitalant.org or by calling 877-258-4825. In order to credit Scrubs Club, donors should use the group code AH43 or mention the Hersey blood drive when registering, officials said.
Those donors may include students 16 and older, faculty, family and friends. A poster notes that “it’s more fun to donate together,” and also reminds potential donors that face masks will be required – amid the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic.
Students younger than 17 require a parental consent form, available on the Vitalant website.
Donors will receive a free COVID-19 antibody test and a coupon for a free one-topping large pizza from Papa John’s, according to club members.
Pataky, the coordinator for the Scrubs Club with fellow Hersey science teacher Niki Morley, said the virtual approach is especially important this year because of a blood shortage at the same time virus concerns have caused many larger organizations to suspend in-person blood drives.
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According to its website, Vitalant, founded in 1943, is one of the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit transfusion medicine organizations. Vitalant provides blood and special services to patients in nearly 1,000 hospitals across 40 states.
Hersey is one of six high schools in Arlington Heights-based Township High School District 214 , which has about 12,000 students in six high schools and two specialized schools. The district serves students from Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Des Plaines, Elk Grove Village, Mount Prospect, Prospect Heights, Rolling Meadows and Wheeling.
Graydon Megan is a freelancer.