PIKE CREEK, Del. – Nestled in the heart of the beautiful Pike Creek Valley, Goldey-Beacom College each fall semester traditionally holds a blood for students and staff, and the draw held Tuesday, October 10 did not disappoint.
The Goldey-Beacom College Blood Drive was steadily busy from the start. That included three out of the first four donors that came in when we began operating at 9 o’clock on Tuesday morning.
All in all, 30 appointments were booked for this blood drive, and that translated to 22 solid units, minus deferrals and no shows, Blood Bank of Delmarva Account Manager Gia Rivera said.
Gia and Director of Donor Recruitment Joanna Arat spent time with the outstanding blood drive coordinator, Sulakshmi Vaid, recruiting donors on campus.
“Awesome job, Gia!” Joanna said. “And many thanks to the site coordinator because she was fantastic on Monday and I’m sure today as well.”
Director, Donor Resources Nicole Pineault, who has been training Joanna, congratulated her and Gia for this fantastic blood drive that similar to recent blood drives attracted young donors.
As for Sulakshmi, she is the AmeriCorps Vista volunteer coordinator on the Goldey-Beacom College campus. Not only did she recruit donors, but she set an example by signing up to donate herself.
“Part of my duties with AmeriCorps Vista is to help build community service, engagement and volunteerism on campus,” she said. “So, the blood drive falls under that. I know you guys have had a shortage, and I just know it’s important to give back.”
Wow, thank you for everything, Sulakshmi!
Among the first-time donors she recruited was Goldey-Beacom junior finance major Nathan Turner.
“They were just asking and I felt like, why not?” he said. “My Dad donates all the time.”
Also among the first-time donors was Morgan Scott, a women’s sophomore softball player for Goldey-Beacom. She donated with her friend, teammate and fellow sophomore Chasedy Johnson.
“My friend talked me into it,” Morgan said. “I’m scared of needles – not tattoo needles – but there’s just something about medical needles. Hopefully, this is the first time of many.”
While it was Morgan’s first time, Chasey has donated blood before.
“We’re lucky we didn’t have practice today,” Chasedy said. “Why not? It’s for a good cause.”
Chasedy and Morgan ended up inspiring other softball teammates to donate as well. Coming to the blood drive a little later were fellow Goldey-Beacom softball team members McKenna Frank, Molly Skelly, Gwen Safan, Bri Snover and Rilee Gardner. (Four of the five were signed up to donate.)
Chasedy also inspired her sister, freshman Chaneyl Johnson, to sign up for the blood drive as well. She was a first timer.
Another first-time donor, Goldey-Beacom College Director of Admissions Randle Reed, donated for the first time under the Individual Donor Assessment.
“I identify as gay. There were so many barriers. Up until now, I was not allowed to donate,” Randle said. “It couldn’t be any easier,” he added to the pleasant process of donating blood.
As is typical on any college, we also had a little bit of an international flare as in sophomore international business major Hannah Brandl, who hails from Austria. She has donated back home as well.
“It’s just to help people,” Hannah said.
Thank you, Hannah, and thanks to all the donors who made this blood drive a success.
And special thanks to Mobile Operations, including Supervisor, Collections Jackeline Rivera and her crew on Tuesday.
