On Tuesday, November 21, Parker parents, faculty, and students donated blood at a drive held in the small gym. Organized by juniors Audrey May and Chloe Mackmore Gonzalez and facilitated by LifeSource, Chicago’s largest non-profit blood center, the drive was the school’s most successful yet, according to school nurse Anne Nelson, yielding 30 pints of blood, which can be used to help up to 90 people.

“With all of the tragedies that have been happening in our world, we realized that there’s a real need for blood,” Mackmore Gonzalez said, referencing recent hurricane Maria. “It’s one of the most important things you can give, and there are so many people who need it here and around the world on a daily basis, so that’s why we wanted to have a drive.”

For May it was a matter of access too.  “We wanted to do something that anyone can do,” May said. “You don’t have to be able to donate money or clothes to help.” The only requirement was that donors had to be 16 or older.

Once the two juniors came up with their idea of holding a blood drive, they worked with Upper School Head Justin Brandon and Nelson to coordinate the logistics. Nelson recommended that they use LifeSource as the blood center based on drives she has held at Parker with the organization in past years.

“This particular time is really good to hold a drive because a lot of people travel over Thanksgiving, and there are more car accidents and more need for blood,” Nelson said. “The man from Lifesource who I talked to about booking the event estimated that the blood from our drive will be completely used up in a few days.” The blood was donated to local hospitals, according to Nelson.

Alex Ori, a  sophomore, participated in the blood drive. “Being 16, I liked having the opportunity to give back in a way that’s not writing a check,” she said. “It was really meaningful to have an actual, first-hand connection with how I was helping and go give an actual part of me.”

Nelson particularly appreciated the origin of the Drive. “I was thrilled that this originated from the students,” she said. “I think it’s really important for kids to see that they can give back in a way that’s not donating money.”