![Hosting the SCLA Casptone Mentor Dinner outside allowed for more attendees on September 27, 2021 at Silver Creek. This event would’ve usually been held inside. According to Lauren Kohn, a SCLA 12 teacher, “If we have a higher number of people, as long as we can host the event outside, then that seems to be keeping every[one] safe”.](https://schsnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/sxMAIGbSYGodZkqmrvTi5YWcJ1ssWA08ApkeMLpp-900x675.jpeg)
Every year about 4.5 million Americans will need a blood transfusion. About 1 out of 7 people entering a hospital need blood, but due to the national shortage, it’s not always possible. One team of seniors are doing their best to help fill the need for blood in our community.
Silver Creek High School seniors Anna Trochman and Lixa Roth have teamed up and hosted Blood for the Better for their senior capstone project within Silver Creek’s leadership program. They host monthly blood drives that are open to the public.
Silver Creek Leadership Academy (SCLA) is an opportunity for students at Silver Creek High School that teaches students many leadership skills over the course of their high school career. SCLA teachers prepare students for a Capstone project that they complete during their senior year. A capstone project is a year-long project in which students complete a service-oriented task of their choosing.
Carrie Adams, Program director, and Lauren Kohn, SCLA 12 teacher, help seniors in this program to navigate and plan through the year such as planning events and other activities.
Trochman and Roth took on the project because they want to raise awareness, raising awareness also means saving lives.
”We both want to go into the medical field so we thought of this as a good stepping stone,” Roth said.
Blood drives are hosted off site to make community members feel more comfortable than coming into a school to donate blood. It also shows that this is for the community and not for the school.
“We have partnered with the SpringHill Suites by Marriott to use their conference room which is a lot nicer than hosting in the gym,” Adams said.
The overall process of donating blood takes about 30 minutes, but these 30 minutes can save lives locally and across the country.
Vitalant helps Blood for the Better run their blood drives. The blood people donate usually goes to a nearby hospital, but sometimes it goes out-of-state.
“Some of mine has gone to Colorado Springs, and I know someone whose [blood] went to California,” Trochman said.
“Over the year I have learned about how crucial it is that people donate their blood because once again, of the national blood shortage [as well as] some cool facts, one donation can save three lives, and every two seconds somebody in the United States needs a blood transfusion.
[Another interesting fact is], people who donate on average live about 5 years longer than people who don’t [donate blood],” Trochman said.
For those interested in donating, they should be aware of some requirements.
“If you are 18 and above just [scan] the posters around the school and sign up,” Adams said. “Walk-ins are available. It’s not as scary as you think and maybe get a friend if that makes you feel better. The phlebotomists that come are super professional and are super nice.”
Getting people to donate blood can be a struggle, though due to “weight requirements and being at least 16 years old or older to donate.” Trochman said.
Monthly blood drives are held at SpringHill Suites by Marriott Boulder Longmont at 1470 Dry Creek Longmont, CO, 80503. The next blood drive is Sunday, April 12th. For more information, please visit Blood for the Better’s Instagram page.
“Be the type that saves a life” –Blood For The Better.
