Student Senate sponsoring annual spring blood drive April 20-22

Northwest students and employees took time to donate blood during Student Senate's winter blood drive in February. The Senate is sponsoring its spring blood drive April 20-22. (Photo by Todd Weddle/Northwest Missouri State University)

Northwest Missouri State University’s Student Senate will host its annual spring blood drive with the Community Blood Center April 20-22 at the J.W. Jones Student Union.

Northwest students and employees as well as community members are invited to donate blood between 11 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. in the Tower View Room, located on the third floor of the Student Union. Interested donors should use the group code CZ to reserve an appointment at savealifenow.org/group; walk-ins will also be accepted on the days of the blood drive.

Blood collected from volunteer donors assists cancer patients recovering from the rigors of chemotherapy, auto accident victims needing blood for emergency surgeries or mothers needing blood as a result of traumatic birth deliveries. It is estimated three lives are saved with every unit collected.

The Community Blood Center is the primary supplier of blood and blood components in the region, serving more than 65 local hospitals and medical centers. Student Senate annually sponsors fall, winter and spring blood drives in cooperation with the Community Blood Center to boost blood supplies in northwest Missouri.

Northwest has sponsored blood drives for more than 45 years and has a reputation for its outstanding commitment to supporting blood donation in the region The Community Blood Center recognized Northwest as one of its top blood donors for 2018-2019. During the 2020-2021 academic year, Northwest has collected 227 units of blood.

“Giving blood is such an awesome way to give back to your community,” Joseph Etheridge, a Student Senate junior class representative and civic service chair, said. “Blood donations have been low for about a year as a result of the COVID-19 virus, but the need for blood units persists. Giving blood truly is a selfless act and quite literally saves lives.”

For more information, contact Student Senate’s Civic Committee at sencivc@nwmissouri.edu or 660.562.1218 or the Community Blood Center at 800.245.7035.