Notre Dame Academy had a successful blood drive on April 27, coming highest in the region for units donated. This includes all of Wisconsin, Iowa, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

The goal for this blood drive was to receive 47 units of blood, which was most definitely achieved as 60 units of blood were collected altogether. In total, there were 69 people signed up to donate blood, and the drive collected 127.7% of its goal.

Junior Mia Lemkuil, one of the student leaders of the drive, says that the preparations that go into the blood drive are made easy by the number of students ready to donate.  She and her fellow students go around during lunches to recruit people to donate.

There is a need for blood now more than ever. The American Red Cross is suffering a severe shortage of blood donations with a 10% decline in the number of people donating blood since the beginning of the pandemic. Blood donations are a type of medical necessity that cannot wait.

Just one donation can save up to three lives. Notre Dame is blessed to have students and faculty who are eager to volunteer.

“There is a severe shortage in blood right now, so blood drives are so important, especially as the number of patients in hospitals increase due to COVID,” said Lemkuil.