Ulster BOCES students have once again stepped up to help bolster blood supplies. Under the supervision of Certified Nurse Assistant instructor Lucy De Van Trolian, a blood drive was recently hosted by the Career & Technical Center’s Nurse Assistant students. The drive, which took place on October 2, supported the efforts of the Northeastern New York Chapter of the American Red Cross. Thirty-three units in all were collected, which yielded 24 productive (useable) units – enough to save 72 lives.

Ulster BOCES Nurse Assistant student Grace Meehan felt it was important to give back to her community, so she volunteered to assist during the blood drive. “Donating blood is very important because it can help save lives in an emergency,” the Saugerties High School senior explained.
Criminal Justice student Stevie Erceg from the Onteora Central School District agreed. Erceg, who also volunteered, said she was inspired to be part of the event because blood donations are critical for sickle cell disease patients.

“It’s great to see all of the students participating in such a worthy cause year after year since 2006,” said Red Cross account manager Pamela Downey. “An event like this brings people together and it is a way to give back to their community and to patients who are in need of blood.”

The American Red Cross supplies approximately 40 percent of the nation’s blood supply and relies on community-driven mobile blood drives, like the one hosted at Ulster BOCES, for 80 percent of the blood they collect.