The Community Blood Center set up shop in the Auxiliary Gym on Monday, Nov. 9 to collect life-saving blood from teachers, staff and eligible students at the invitation of the National Honor Society. NHS sponsor, teacher Heather Hall, and senior event chair Divya Jain, spent weeks preparing for their arrival.

NHS organization and an attitude of service from the BV West community resulted in 86 donors and 77 units, the most collected since the spring of 2010. The group recruited at lunch, over the announcements, through social media and with posters around the school. A giving attitude helped create the attitude of helping others.

“As a healthy person, donating a pint of blood is no loss to me compared to someone who may be too sick to live without it,” senior Donya Jahandar said. “I donate in hopes of saving a life.”

Jahandar’s attitude was echoed by fellow donor, senior Kylie Kuska.

“I thought it was so cool to see your own blood that would save somebody’s life,” Kuska said. “It’s such a small act for all of us, but had the potential to change somebody’s life completely.”