'You are saving someone': Local blood drive held at Wayne State College

WAYNE, Neb.-- People came out to give blood on Wednesday at the Wayne State College, Canter Student Center.

It was a chance for people to make an impact and help fight the national blood shortage affecting the country.

Allie Jaixen, who is in charge of the blood drives, said there have been some new faces that came out to donate. “Actually, this drive we’ve had a lot of new people donate. So, I don’t know if that’s just because we are getting the word out or if it’s just kinda like people,” said Jaixen.

With the blood drives going on at Wayne State College, it hasn’t just been students or staff members giving blood.

“So, we do have a lot of outside community members that come in, which is really nice. We do still have our good number of students, staff, and faculty that come and donate,” added Jaixen.

When trying to convince people to donate, Jaixen and other organizers are stressing the importance of giving blood during a nationwide shortage.

“We just really stress that there’s a shortage. We really stress and be like ‘hey, if you come in and donate, you’re saving three lives,” Jaixen said. “Once you say how many lives you will save, people will be like ‘wow that’s a lot!’. Just think, if you have just five, that’s 15 lives you’re saving just from whole blood just right there”.

Jaixen explained to NCN why she is so passionate about blood drives and why they are important.

"It’s really rewarding knowing that you don’t know where your blood is going. It could go to Omaha. It could go to New York. You really don’t know. It’s really nice to realize that you may not know the person, but you are saving someone,” and “I always look at it like, if I was in a bad car accident, I would want someone to save me. That’s why I give personally and I know that’s why a lot of people give.” 

Representatives from the drive stated that another blood drive will be held on February 15th and are expecting it to be an even better turnout.