Friday, March 29, 2024

Fraternity blood drive surpasses expectations

September 20, 2001

Sigma Sigma Phi, a medical fraternity in the College of Osteopathic Medicine, is sponsoring a blood drive from noon to 5:45 p.m. today in D-4 Fee Hall.

Walk-ins are not allowed because the drive, which had a goal of 60 people, has 100 scheduled to donate.

Carol Lovelady, MSU’s donor recruitment representative for the American Red Cross, said despite the drive being full, she encourages students to donate in the future.

Lovelady said 1,250 students donated at the Union blood drive Sept. 12, and students will have many opportunities to donate because MSU will be having drives every day in November.

Ann Kammerer, spokeswoman for the Great Lakes Blood Service Region of the American Red Cross, said although the immediate need in the wake of the terrorist attacks has been met, the Red Cross is not discouraging people from coming out.

She suggested people who would like to give blood but can’t because of long lines at drives should give their name and phone number to a Red Cross employee to schedule an appointment.

“We want people to know there is always a need for blood,” she said. “This summer, there was a blood shortage in many major cities.”

The Red Cross is asking people to space out donations over the course of the next month to keep donors’ blood supply strong.

Jim Rummel, communication manager for the Mid-Michigan Chapter of the American Red Cross, said his center has collected twice as many units as usual since last week. He said he thinks the blood drive at Fee Hall will be successful as well.

“People want to respond to the problems facing America right now,” he said. “Many people feel there will be more terrorist activity in the U.S., and some want to support the military if needed.”

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