The Fresno State Blood Drive is back

The Central California Blood Drive is back on campus for the first time since the pandemic. The blood drive usually happens about three times a year to make donating blood more convenient. 

Last year there weren’t any blood drives on campus because of the pandemic. 

The Central California Blood Center services 19 hospitals and five counties in the Central Valley. If it doesn’t get enough blood, the center is unable to provide blood to patients at the local hospitals. 

The Fresno State Blood Drive has always been beneficial for the centers. Student and staff donors donate about 600 pints of blood, per blood drive. 

Last year without the blood drive events, the center only received 20 walk-in student donors from Fresno State.

This year the center is hoping for more. 

“We just want to encourage everybody, if it’s your first time or if it’s your third time to give it a try,” said Alis Mejia, marketer for the Central California Blood Center. “You can save up to three lives with one donation and it’s going to be localized. It can be somebody that you know and love, or a family member. You never know who’s going to be using your blood.”

For some students, donating has become a habit. Brian Irineo donated blood for the first time at one of the previous Fresno State Blood Drives and now it’s like a permanent appointment in his life. 

“You know when you do something habitually it becomes like a routine,” said Irineo. “I don’t really have a second thought about it.” 

The blood drive will take place on campus April 15th and 16th at the North Gym from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
For more information about the drive, or donating blood, visit www.donateblood.org.