The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Pandemic doesn’t deter blood donors
Buford City Schools presses ahead — safely — with the annual blood drive.
For the last decade, Buford City Schools has hosted two blood drives every school year — one in the fall and one in spring. With the recent pandemic and call for people not to forget that giving blood is an essential service, officials moved the event usually held in April up a few weeks. The call went out for a blood drive to take place Monday, March 30. All the slots filled up within an hour, so they added an extra day.
“This is an amazing community,” said Denise Simpson, a Buford Schools staff member. “We’ve collected over a thousand units over the years here at the Buford Arena.”
The final tally for the two days was 111 units.
The American Red Cross is requesting that all healthy and eligible donors consider giving blood during this time.
Everyone entering the building had to have their temperature checked. If you showed signs of a fever, you wouldn’t be admitted.
The chairs for those waiting to be assessed were spread out six feet apart and everyone working was wearing face masks and latex gloves.
Julie Pickens is a regular. With three children in Buford schools, she’s always at the ready when parents are needed. Her daughter is a senior this year and is a little bummed out that many of the things that make this year special have been put on hold.
“The prom has been postponed and they don’t know if there will be a graduation ceremony,” said Pickens. “But she’s looking forward to college and this will be an experience she can tell her grandchildren.”
Two of Rodney Wilson’s three children have already graduated, but he took time from his work-at-home duties to “give back to the community,” he said. “I had to find a way to help out, no matter how small. We’re all in this together, black and white, rich and poor. When one succeeds, we all succeed.”
As an insurance claims adjuster, he’s grateful that he’s not among the people who’ve been laid off or are required to risk their lives.
“I’m my children’s first role model and I have to show that I’m ready to step up when needed.”
Currently, there is no shortage of blood products, according to the American Red Cross.
“A lot of people have really answered the call,” said spokeswoman Ronnika McFall. Organizations had experienced a dip in donations as the pandemic spread from state to state as people canceled collection drives or were afraid of being around other people.
The Red Cross has implemented several initiatives to make sure staffers and donors are safe. For instance, taking donors’ temperature and having plenty of hand sanitizer. Staffers also change their gloves between donors .
“Blood donations are essential to ensuring good health across communities and it is definitely safe to donate and safe to receive blood right now,” McFall said.
However, she said, one never knows when blood supplies will fall again. They are encouraging people to book appointment further out.
“No one knows when the end date will be in the fight against the coronavirus,” she said.
The first day of the Buford blood drive saw 50 people try to give blood.
“We ended up with 46 units, which is fantastic,” said Simpson. “And we’re just as grateful for the ones who came and couldn’t give blood.”
When she’s not coordinating this type of event, Simpson works with children who have been identified as needing intervention, such as a reading specialist or placement in special education classes. She added that besides providing a much-needed resource for the community, the blood drives in general help train students on how it works.
“Even though students couldn’t be here today, the Red Cross will award a scholarship based on the amount of blood we collect.” Two students will each receive a $500 college scholarship.
Born and raised in Buford, Brandon Hastings gave a double donation for the first time Tuesday.
“This is something you do without giving it a second thought,” he said. “That’s what this community is all about.”