By Theresa O’Connor 

 With TPA’s third official blood drive, it was important that students, parents and community members to stay “O positive” instead of “A negative” when it comes to signing up to donate blood. 

   Senior Naomi Palmer and juniors Dayanara Gamez and Niamh Waddell prepared to save lives with their blood drive on Feb. 10.

   The main eligibility requirements for participants include being 16 or older, weighing over 110 pounds and having parental consent if under 18. Students interested in donating blood should verify that they meet all the requirements, sign-up and fill out a questionnaire by visiting (insert website). 

   When Naomi first applied to TPA’s National Honor Society, she loved the idea of hosting a blood drive because she wanted to bring a unique service project to the school community. When Mrs. Moffitt told her that Vitalant, the school’s current blood drive partner, was willing to coordinate an event, Naomi immediately seized the opportunity and has managed two blood drives since. 

   These drives, however, weren’t just about her NHS requirements. “I ran two (drives) when I was a junior and I only needed to run one to get into NHS, and at that point it became less about that and more about continuing this relationship and doing more for the community and for everyone who actually needs blood,” she says.

   The first drive, however, was a “total struggle” because effective advertising is a difficult task for one person. Naomi says for the upcoming blood drive she is looking forward to reaching more people because the juniors will spread the word to their grade. 

   The coordinators’ main goal is to “fill as many spots as possible.” Naomi says that if enough people fill up spots, Vitalant will add another nurse to the bus to accommodate more donors.

The three are currently working with the Vitalant representative, Wendy Ferreira, to advertise and save as many lives as possible. They are excited for their Valentine’s Day theme and encourage members of the TPA community to sign up and make a difference. 

      “I want the student body to recognize how important it is to give blood because it has such a huge impact on other people,” Dayanara says. “I think the representative mentioned that one session of giving blood can save up to three people’s lives.”