The art of saving lives: Key Club's quarterly blood drive

The art of saving lives: Key Club’s quarterly blood drive – CHAT News

The art of saving lives: Key Club’s quarterly blood drive – CHAT News Skip to Content Categories: Carousel Clubs The art of saving lives: Key Club’s quarterly blood drive Malia Nortelus and Alejandra Gomez Velasquez October 5, 2026 The members of Key Club stand in front of their sign presenting their blood drive. They all hold up thumbs ups showing how great this opportunity is. Gianna Padro Every year, 62% of individuals in the U.S. are eligible to donate blood, yet only 3% do, increasing the need for blood donations. Key Club allows students to participate in a blood drive and donate blood to those in need. Gathering in the River of Grass (ROG), students’ small donations make a crucial impact across South Florida. Organized by Key Club and OneBlood, a nonprofit community blood center that collects and provides life-saving blood to hundreds of hospitals, the ROG became a donation clinic, giving students service hours, pizza, and merch for donating blood. “I decided to donate because there are a lot of people who really need this blood,” junior Christian Rupin states. Once students turn 16, they can officially participate in the blood drive. These students play a crucial role in the medical industry, as their blood donations count for 10% of blood centers’ supply. Students were given the choice to either donate whole blood or platelets. Platelets are vital for cancer treatments, blood disorders, and organ transplants, while whole blood goes towards emergencies, trauma, and surgery. The processes differ in how long they take to draw, since platelets are more complex than whole blood. “It saves lives. It saved my life when I was born; I needed a transfusion. I’ve also had friends and family who needed one too,” Patricia Denham, supervisor for donor recruitment at OneBlood, notes. Donating to the community does not just benefit students through rewards, but it also pushes them out of their comfort zone to do greater good. Doing great deeds such as this builds a bond among students, connecting them through shared experiences. “High schoolers are the most important donors when it comes to blood drives. That’s why we come to these schools because students are the most willing to make a difference,” Patrick Sanchez, a OneBlood worker, remarks. As the blood drive reaches an end, students walk out of the ROG knowing that due to their bravery and patience, someone was able to live another day. Even though they may never know who received their blood donation, the feeling of helping another in need is enough. “I volunteer at hospitals, and I’ve really seen how far the blood could go, so it’s nice to see people my age working towards helping others and still believing that community matters,” senior Lorenzo Carvajal, Key Club President, mentions. A student lays with a blanket over her as she smiles for the picture. She sits there proud of her courage and selflessness for her ability to donate life-saving blood. One of the doctors apart of this blood drive gets the student ready to draw blood. This scene accentuates the work that goes into saving lives in South Florida. The student stares at his arm while the doctor sets him up. The doctor puts a smile on his face because of the bold and impactful atmosphere the student surrounds him with. Two students fill out the necessary information for the blood drive. Soon after, they will start donating, providing blood to those who need it while showcasing their courage. Two students smile for a photo while waiting to get their blood drawn. Their small donation will make a big impact. Students are seen in chairs drawing blood while squeezing a tool that makes the veins more visible. They both sit there happily knowing about the 3 lives they are about to save. Two students are seen drawing platelets while holding stress toys given from the blood drive. They both smile knowing that they are willingly impacting cancer patients. 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