After the Red Cross issued an urgent plea for donors due to an emergency shortage, Academy’s community stepped in and donated 36 units of blood, including 2 power red units, and saved over 100 lives last Wednesday, January 11. The date for the Winter Blood Drive was chosen to honor Dr. King’s message.

With a record number of donors, this year’s blood drive had more people show up than Red Cross staff could accommodate. Mrs. Bening, director of Service Board, says, “Everybody was so patient and kind, and despite the Red Cross not having enough staff to support the large number of people, the support for the blood drive was fabulous.”

In the early 90s, Mr. Kerr introduced the first ever blood drive to the Academy community. After the mid-90s,  Bening and the Service Board took over the responsibility for this event.

Cris Cakes became a tradition at the Winter Blood Drive 8 years ago as a celebratory treat for the donators. The Service Board wanted to encourage people to donate by giving them a free meal while making sure kids would have something fun and different to eat.

October, one during MLK holiday week, and one in May. The winter blood drive was chosen to be held right before this holiday weekend to honor Dr. King’s message.

Bening says, “Blood is universal. Blood has all types, but when someone is in need it doesn’t matter where or from whom the blood donation comes from. We chose the MLK holiday week to host our most important blood drive to honor Dr. King’s message because where the blood comes from doesn’t matter. And to whom it goes doesn’t matter. The thing that matters is we are saving lives regardless of the donors’ or recipients’ race, religion, orientation, or belief.”’

Academy’s third blood drive will be held in May. Its first of the year was in October.