Liberty hosts Central Virginia’s largest blood drive

Liberty University partnered with The American Red Cross Wednesday to host the largest one-day blood drive in Central Virginia and the Appalachian Region. Over 230 students donated blood in honor of the victims of the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando in June, collecting the most units of blood in a single drive for the area.

David Nasser, senior vice president for Spiritual Development, told students in Friday’s Convocation that after the shooting happened, the university began looking for ways to respond.

“We asked them (city officials) how we could serve them, and someone there noticed how a lot of people there were standing in long lines to give blood,” he said. “We decided to honor that incident by having the largest one-day blood drive in our collegiate history.”

Laura Dooley, recruitment manager for the Red Cross in Virginia, said that Liberty hosts two blood drives a month during the school year, and that last year the university donated 800 units of blood.

“Liberty students have been very supportive and passionate about the blood program we have on campus,” Dooley said. “Typically, we will have an over-representation of donors who want to donate blood at each blood drive. We cannot take all of them, but they certainly show up to give blood. They are willing to wait; they are patient; they love doing it; and they feel good about themselves when they are finished. We are thankful for Liberty University allowing us to come to campus.”

Dooley said that after the Orlando shootings happened, blood was immediately sent to help victims. Some of the blood donated at Wednesday’s drive will be sent to Orlando, and some will go to multiple locations throughout Virginia.

“The idea behind today’s drive is to make sure the blood is on a shelf for any emergency that could happen,” she said. “These kinds of shootings could happen anywhere, so we want to make sure we have our local blood supply full.”

Marlon Pollard, a sophomore studying pastoral leadership, said he decided to donate because earlier this year his grandmother had a blood transfusion, and a blood donor saved her life.

“It means a lot to me that Liberty does not just say they care, but they show they care by giving blood and donating to people to let them know that we are not just a people that say, ‘We love you,’ and say, ‘We care,’ but we actually take action and initiative.”