A steady stream of Cerritos College students, along with faculty, staff and community members lined up at the American Red Cross bloodmobile this week to donate blood, not only to save lives but also to help their club win a pizza party.
More than 40 clubs are participating in this year’s ARC blood drive at Cerritos College according to Rob Torrez, Senior Field Manager for ARC Blood Services.
The ARC will give a “Crystal Blood Drop” award and a pizza party to the club that donates the most blood. The winner will be announced at the Spring Awards Banquet, May 4.
“We expect to collect 400 or more units [of blood] here this week,” Torres said. “We get 100 to 125 donors and from that collect 80 to 90 pints a day. We are very proud of Cerritos College.”
For the last 15 years, Cerritos College has been in the top three donating colleges and universities in Southern California but never number one, according to Torres who has been collecting blood at Cerritos College for the last 19 years.
The annual competition covers collection weeks in Sept., Nov., Feb. and April.
This is the final week of the competition.
“I’d like to see us take number one,” Torrez said. “I feel like I’m part of this school.”
“I used to work in the medical field and know some people die for a drop of blood,” said private pilot, Mauricio Manzano. I came here to pick up my wife. She’s a student here. She told me about it so we’re both donating.”
“I know my blood is a rare type B-, Psychology major Dianna Manzano said, “but I don’t like the needle so I don’t look.”
From start to finish donating blood takes 30 to 45 minutes when there is no waiting.
“I figure, one day I may need blood and it’s got to come from somewhere,” geology major, Rebecca Freeland said. “I’d like to know it’s available.”
The collected blood will be used to replenish supplies at area hospitals and to stock up for summer when the need is highest and the collections are lowest, according to Torrez.
The ARC Bloodmobile will be collecting blood in Falcon square from 8 a.m – 8 p.m. thru Thursday.
