UCLA
The University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) student council hosted a blood drive, Aug. 27, in Anderson Hall, aiming to collect donations to help supply the local blood bank and potentially save lives in the community.
“I donated blood because it feels nice to know that I’m helping other people,” senior Camila Portillo said. “It feels really good to know that it costs nothing from me, and it could save a life.”
The UCLA Blood Drive plays a vital role in support – ing the medical community by collecting and distributing blood donations to hospitals and patients in need. Drives from high schools are one of UCLA’s largest sources of blood.
“I think what we’re doing is for a better cause, and we really don’t know where the blood is going, but you never know if you can help someone near your own community,” senior Sage Bellisi said.
The blood drive was planned by the school’s Student Council (Stuco) after months of organization. As the Stuco-UCLA representative, Bellisi had to work closely with the head of drives at UCLA to make this one come to fruition. The planning of the UCLA blood drive involved coordination with UCLA representatives and student volunteers. This collaboration ensured the event ran smoothly, allowing donors to focus on the act of giving.
“It helps build up the blood bank for the local supply,” senior Anders Sundberg said. “If someone is in an accident or needs blood, they have it available to use.”
The ability to help others is a huge reason students choose to donate. The blood is sent to hospitals and used for medical treatments, such as helping car accident victims, people going under surgery, and cancer patients.
“It’s normal to be nervous,” Portillo said. “But at the end of the day, it feels good to know that you’re potentially saving lives.”
With each donation, students help ensure that local hospitals have the resources they need. Proving that small acts can make a lasting impact, but beyond its life-saving impact for recipients, donating blood offers perks for donors, like snacks and background music to listen to, ensuring the comfort of generous students. The environment is calm and laid back, free from disturbance.
“You get to sit and listen to music and just chill,” Sundberg said.
By participating in the UCLA blood drive, students at this school not only contributed to the local blood supply but now also may inspire others to consider the importance of blood donation. Their experiences underscore the value of community involvement in supporting critical medical needs, highlighting how individual actions can make a tangible difference in the life of others.
“One of the leaders that worked at UCLA was telling us that one of the reasons why we do these drives…[is because a student] at a different school needed a blood donation because she was fighting cancer, and the blood donated by the school went to her,” Bellisi said. “It actually saved her life.”