With Southern California experiencing its largest blood shortage in a decade, Wildwood’s upper school students put the Habit of Service to the Common Good into practice, organizing and hosting a blood drive with the Red Cross at the middle and upper campus. In the course of one afternoon, students collected more than 19 units of blood, which has the potential to impact the lives of up to 57 patients.
The effort was organized by Wildwood’s Red Cross Club, one of the dozens of student organizations led by middle and upper school students. Of the 23 student participants, 22 of them were first-time donors. Club president Milo C. ‘22, credits the drive’s success to the commitment of the club’s members and spirit of community that’s central to student life at Wildwood.
“There were numerous volunteers who stepped up throughout the drive to help with everything from logistics to building excitement and promoting the event to students,” said Milo. “It made for both a fun and inspiring experience.”
Of course, coordinating a blood drive during a pandemic doesn’t come without a few challenges, said Pat Colley, director of student life.
“COVID-19 has complicated practically all aspects of student life, but it’s of particular significance when we’re talking about a health-related initiative,” Pat said. “I’m so impressed by the drive of these students and their ability to plan, prepare, and navigate the obstacles that COVID-19 presented.”
With a successful campaign behind them, Milo hopes that the drive lays the groundwork for future student collaboration with the Red Cross.
“I joined the Red Cross Youth Volunteer Corps during the pandemic and was amazed by the opportunity that I was given to make a difference,” Milo said. “My hope in leading the Red Cross Club at Wildwood has been to empower members to create public-health initiatives that benefit the community, and I hope that Wildwood students will continue to benefit from these volunteering opportunities for years to come.”
- Spring 2022
