by, Lauren Raziano, Social Media Editor
Manhattan College held an emergency blood drive on Wednesday, March 24 in Smith Auditorium from 12-6 p.m. Due to COVID-19 restrictions the blood drive was only open to the Manhattan College Community and all participants were required to have a green pass, wear a face covering and have their temperature taken before attending.
Conor Reidy, Manhattan College’s Director of Campus Ministry and Social Action has been involved in the blood drive for the past four years. Reidy plays an active role of getting the New York Blood Center onto campus.
“I communicate with the New York Blood Center, I reserve the spaces on campus, I get the word out and the day of, I help with logistics,” Reidy said.
There were 45 donors at the blood drive for a total of 135 blood donations. Each person can donate up to three people. There are different types of blood donations people can do –– whole blood donations, or the ALYX machine.
“We had 33 whole blood donations as people who come and donate the entirety of their blood, and then we had six people donate on the ALYX machine,” Reidy said. “The ALYX machine takes double the amount of blood, but it returns your plasma and your platelets. So, six people donating actually equals 12 donations,” Reidy said.
The COVID-19 restrictions on campus was a main factor that limited participants from donating.
“Due to our COVID-19 policies on campus currently, which requires off campus personnel to, everyone has to fill out a green pass,” Reidy said. “We weren’t really sure how to go about ensuring that everybody who would be coming on campus to donate would be able to know how to submit a green pass in order to be on campus.”
Despite the limited number of participants, Reidy is hopeful that in the future more members of the Manhattan College community will come and donate blood.
“Hopefully in the future Manhattan College can once again become a really strong donation site,” Reidy said. “I was always really proud that Manhattan College was always the second highest university donor in the Bronx. It always makes me happy that we have such a strong commitment to the New York Blood Center and to something that very tactically changes lives.”
The next blood drive hosted by Manhattan College is April 29, so everyone who donated this time will have the opportunity to donate again.
Manhattan College held an emergency blood drive on Wednesday, March 24 in Smith Auditorium from 12-6 p.m. Due to COVID-19 restrictions the blood drive was only open to the Manhattan College Community and all participants were required to have a green pass, wear a face covering and have their temperature taken before attending.
Conor Reidy, Manhattan College’s Director of Campus Ministry and Social Action has been involved in the blood drive for the past four years. Reidy plays an active role of getting the New York Blood Center onto campus.
“I communicate with the New York Blood Center, I reserve the spaces on campus, I get the word out and the day of, I help with logistics,” Reidy said.
There were 45 donors at the blood drive for a total of 135 blood donations. Each person can donate up to three people. There are different types of blood donations people can do –– whole blood donations, or the ALYX machine.
“We had 33 whole blood donations as people who come and donate the entirety of their blood, and then we had six people donate on the ALYX machine,” Reidy said. “The ALYX machine takes double the amount of blood, but it returns your plasma and your platelets. So, six people donating actually equals 12 donations,” Reidy said.
The COVID-19 restrictions on campus was a main factor that limited participants from donating.
“Due to our COVID-19 policies on campus currently, which requires off campus personnel to, everyone has to fill out a green pass,” Reidy said. “We weren’t really sure how to go about ensuring that everybody who would be coming on campus to donate would be able to know how to submit a green pass in order to be on campus.”
Despite the limited number of participants, Reidy is hopeful that in the future more members of the Manhattan College community will come and donate blood.
“Hopefully in the future Manhattan College can once again become a really strong donation site,” Reidy said. “I was always really proud that Manhattan College was always the second highest university donor in the Bronx. It always makes me happy that we have such a strong commitment to the New York Blood Center and to something that very tactically changes lives.”
The next blood drive hosted by Manhattan College is April 29, so everyone who donated this time will have the opportunity to donate again.
Harikrishan Nair Senior | Biology
Why did you decide to donate blood? What did you tell a student who is hesitant to donate blood?
“I donate blood because it is something that everyone can do if they want to and to help save lives.”
Gabriela Sandoval Freshman | Economics
Why did you decide to donate blood?
“I donated blood because it has been on my bucket list for awhile and just any opportunity to help people out, I think you should just go for it.”
What would you tell a student who is hesitant to donate blood?
“If someone is hesitant about it, just think that for the blood you are donating you are helping save three lives.”
Br. Daniel Garner FSC Assistant Director | Graduate and Fellowship Advisement
Why did you decide to donate blood?
“I donated blood because I think that it is part of our duty towards our fellow human beings, to provide something that we can to help them in life threatening situations.”
What would you tell a student who is hesitant to donate blood?
“I would encourage everybody on campus to donate because it is helping other people in ways that take very little away from our own self. It is a great opportunity to be a person of service which goes back to our mission here at Manhattan College. I am a member of the Gallon club, so I donate a gallon of blood every year so I am a regular donor to this particular process both here and abroad. I am really committed to donating blood as a service to fellow humanity.”