LUSK – Like Australian James Harrison, who is credited with making 1,173 blood donations and was recently featured in the news, several citizens came to donate blood during the Niobrara County High School Student Council blood drive on March 4.

According to Niobrara County School District #1 (NCSD #1) school nurse, Adele Hanson, this is the second year that NCHS Student Council has hosted a blood drive for students. Students and those who missed the first blood drive on March 3 had the opportunity to tap a vein and give back to the community. Of course, the student donations were made the permission of parents or guardians.

The blood drive took shape when Hanson got into touch with Jessica Pierce, senior account manager of Vitalant from Rapid City, South Dakota. Hanson told the Herald that, last year, the student council helped check in donors. They also hung up the flyers at the high school and made announcements reminding people to make their appointments. Hanson said there has been a lot of participation from students and the community this year.

“We’re just really super grateful to the community that shows up every time that we’re here,” said Pierce. “We usually collect between 25 and 35 units of blood when we’re here. So, it is very, very successful and we’re just really grateful for the school and the community.”

Pierce told the Herald that she wanted to give a shout out to Sheila Tagney, who has been participating for over a decade as the volunteer coordinator. Tagney was responsible for calling people, making appointments, hanging flyers and sending press releases to the Herald.

“We are looking for a volunteer coordinator for the blood drives in Niobrara County,” said Peirce. “There are five blood drives a year at the Fairgrounds. That person would be responsible for hanging flyers around town, contacting blood donors from around town, making appointments, and greeting the donors at the sign-up table at the blood drive itself. We provide all of the marketing material and the donor call list.”

According to Pierce, the volunteer coordinator in tapping the veins of Niobrara County.

“It can be an individual or it can be a group, I have had different organizations volunteering to help with the blood drives. It can be just be anybody who wants to volunteer,” said Pierce. “It is just a great way to give back. We have a lot of people that aren’t eligible or cannot donate and it is their way of giving back.”

Volunteer coordinators are trained and supported by Vitalant staff every step of the way. If interested, contact Jessica Pierce at (605)858-4119. For more information visit www.vitalant.org or call 877-258-4825.