Nurses, volunteers, and donors gathered in Pinckney Center for the Arts at Central Oregon Community College last Wednesday to participate in the Red Cross campus blood drive.

The quarterly blood drive at COCC is funded by the Associated Students of COCC, is organized by the Criminal Justice program, and is staffed with volunteers from the Criminal Justice program and registered nurses from the Red Cross.

Kathy McCabe, a professor in Criminal Justice, was the head organizer for the event. According to McCabe, the Red Cross is the only blood supplier in Central Oregon.

“That’s it for Saint Charles,” she said strongly, “Give blood. It’s the right thing to do.”
One of the RNs staffing the event, Jason Schmidt, quipped that his favorite part of his job was “sticking people.”

“I love sticking people with needles,” he laughed as he prepped a donor lying on a lawn chair.
Schmidt, who has been an RN for nearly six years, boasts over “14,000 sticks, no exaggeration.”
Schmidt was inspired to become a nurse after a serious snowboarding accident, which resulted in him needing 18 units of donated blood. Schmidt is a full time RN for the Red Cross.

“Everybody should give blood,” he said, “Even if you don’t like needles there are still a lot of ways you can help out with the Red Cross.”

Most of the donors looked relaxed on their lounge chairs, with red blankets covering them. Sherry Richards, the donor Schmidt was working with, was inspired to give blood by her nephew, who has cancer. Richards had to miss one of her classes to donate blood, but as a Criminal Justice student she wasn’t worried by it.

“Teachers are really understanding about letting us out of class for this. I’m nervous (about donating), but it’s worth it to save someone’s life,” Richards said wryly, “It’s a good cause.”

Volunteer Brittany Hopkins, also a student in the Criminal Justice program, worked efficiently and smoothly at the sign-in table.

Over 72 donors signed up in advance, and the rest of the spaces were filled by walk-ins. Hopkins, however, said she would not be donating any blood.

“It’s not the blood,” she laughed, “it’s the thought of a needle in my arm.”

However, Hopkins was glad to be volunteering for the Red Cross.

“It’s just the fact of helping somebody and knowing their life may depend on it. It saves lives. It’s important,” she said.