BYU-Idaho has another service opportunity for students and community members to participate in, and it's one that can make a life-saving impact.
The American Red Cross is back on BYU-Idaho's campus and is hosting a blood drive. The Red Cross comes to campus each semester to receive blood donations to help those in need.
Gabriel Ilagan is the I-Serve campus coordinator who oversees the blood drive on campus. He speaks on the impact students can have on the lives of those in need.
"I think it's a good way for students especially to kind of see their impact on people's lives, and we have a lot of experiences where like we've saved lives with donating blood and we are in a shortage at the moment for blood donations," says Ilagan. "It's good that students are able to come in. They have the opportunity to serve and give their blood and donate. I think it's a great opportunity for them."
Ilagan further mentions there are other perks for students to donate, including a coupon for free ice cream.
"We offer a few raffles, free merch at times that we get from the red cross, and free ice cream," says Ilagan. "You donate, you get a coupon for free ice cream and Culver's and it doesn't expire."
Byron Wilkinson has been a phlebotomist for the American Red Cross for nearly two years. He tells us that you never know when the donations will be needed.
"People don't realize how much of a shortage we go through blood. We're using lots of it a day. The reason they should sign up to donate blood is because you never know when you're gonna need it. You never know what car accident, what incident is gonna happen, where you're gonna end up," says Ilagan. "My daughter got a staff infection and she almost needed a transfusion because of it. It hits home. When it hits home and you find out that we may not have enough blood for them, you never know. You never know when you're gonna need it so it's just bank and carma."
The blood drive will run from Wednesday, March 5 through Friday, March 7 from 10 am to 4 pm. It is on court 2 in the I-Center. You can check appointment availability at redcrossblood dot org.