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By Pulse Staff
At 6 foot four inches, Jeremiah Guerrero is an imposing figure. A freshman on the University of Findlay football team on the offensive line, he braved the cold and the snow Wednesday, Jan. 28 to donate blood at the American Red Cross Blood Drive at the AMU.
“I’m from Buffalo, New York,” Guerrero said. “I’m used to the snow. I like the snow.”
He also had a mission. A tradition of sorts that started in high school.
“I’m giving blood because I’ve been donating blood since sophomore year of high school,” Guerrer said. “My teacher, like, begged me to, because no one was doing it, so.”
The American Red Cross is currently in the midst of a nationwide blood shortage, so that thing he’s been doing since high school is a welcome act of kindness.
The Red Cross says the national blood supply fell around 35% in the past month. Weather has shut down more than 500 blood drives since January 23.
According to Gracie Rodman, University of Findlay student representative for the American Red Cross, about 56 units of blood were collected from 58 donors.
The American Red Cross says those who donate blood by Feb. 28 will get a $20 e-gift card to a merchant of their choice.
During the UF blood drive this week, the Red Cross took regular blood donations as well as Power Red. During a regular donation, the patient gives a pint of blood and they can donate every eight weeks. The Power Red donation allows the patient to give two units of red blood cells during one donation while a machine returns plasma and platelets back to the donor at the same time. But they can only give every 16 weeks.
Chanel Bufkin has been working for the American Red Cross in Toledo for about 11 weeks. She underwent about eight weeks of training. Her work is another form of kindness as she says her goal is to make donors comfortable.
“I tell people they are my babies,” Bufkin said. “I don’t want to hurt you. I don’t want you to have a bad experience and I’m going do it to my best ability. My babies are well taken care of.”
The University of Findlay typically hosts two blood drives a semester. The next one is April 20.
UF Media and Communication student Eva Hancock wanted to participate in the blood drive at UF this week, but back-to-back classes led to limited time so she made an appointment for the next day at the blood drive at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church.
“As a college student, I don’t have a lot of money or time to give back to the community,” Hancock said in an email interview. “Giving blood is one way I am able to do something for others that is accessible.”
Guerrero says his parents are proud of his efforts to donate blood, though mom wants to make sure he’s taking care of his own health. He hopes to eventually talk some friends in to giving as well.
And while the free snacks after the donation are a nice perk, he has other reasons for giving.
“This feels like work I should be doing,” Guerrero said. “I’m actually helping people. So I’m going to just keep on doing it.”
