With a goal of helping those within the community hospitalized and in need of a blood transfusion, the National Honor Society (NHS) hosted a blood drive November 17 and 18, collecting a total of 252 units from students, staff and community members.

“The thing about this blood drive is that all of the blood that is donated goes to this community and stays within this community so anybody who’s in the Med or at St. Joseph, who need blood, can get this blood,” NHS president Kasie Tedrick said.

In order to put on the blood drive, NHS partnered with Brazos Blood Bank, which provided nurses and supplies.

“It’s going to do good for other people, and possibly save lives,” junior Jacob Huckabay said.

Tedrick agrees that students rise to the occasion when it comes to a good cause.

“It’s saving lives, so that’s pretty good motivation; if someone donates, they save three lives,” Tedrick said.

The annual blood drive was expanded to take place in both the spring and fall this year in hopes of having more students participate and gather more donations.

The next blood drive will take place on January 19 and 20, and the NHS has a goal of receiving 350 donations.