The Cab Calloway School of the Arts/Charter School of Wilmington Fall Blood Drive on Thursday, November 13 filled all 45 whole blood appointments and both double red cell slots, with several first-time donors participating.
Led by Cab Calloway’s National Honor Society chapter, the drive attracted numerous first-time donors and produced a total of 41 units of blood.
Cab Calloway National Honor Society students organized the blood drive, recruited donors, staffed the café, and escorted students back to class throughout the blood drive.
As part of my job as Communications Specialist for Blood Bank of Delmarva, I’m at college and high school blood drives all the time. It’s one of my favorite parts of the work—talking with students, encouraging first-time donors, and gathering stories and photos for our Lifeline newsletter.
But the Cab Calloway School of the Arts and Charter School of Wilmington Fall Semester Blood Drive on November 13 was different in a way I’ll never forget: my daughter donated blood for the very first time.
Sophia, who’s a 16-year-old junior at Cab, has grown up hearing me talk about blood donation. I’ve donated 44 times myself, but my wife, Kelly, is firmly in the “nope, not doing needles” camp—so when I asked Sophia if she wanted to sign up for her school’s drive, I honestly didn’t know which way it would go.
To my surprise and pride, she didn’t even hesitate. She just said “yes.” Seeing her in that chair, doing something so selfless at such a young age, was a moment I’ll always remember.
Sophia told me she also wanted to participate because she’s a member of the Cab Calloway National Honor Society (she takes after her mother), and donating earned volunteer credit, not to mention the chance to hang out with Ava, Teal, Gianna, Bella, and Valerie. But, as her dad, I’m claiming at least some of the inspiration there.
Either way, I could not be prouder. Thank you, Sophia, and thank you to the National Honor Society Students who helped make this blood drive a success, including junior Sophia Hanna, and seniors MJ O’Connor, and Stella Mulik.
