GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) – Recently, Gridley High School leadership class was involved in saving lives.

With the help of Vitalant, reportedly the nation’s largest independent, nonprofit blood services provider, Gridley High’s leadership class held a blood drive on Wednesday, March 25^th.

While teachers and community members took advantage of donating, 46 students also participated. At this time, there isn’t a final count on total units collected, but based off Vitalant’s website, a single donation of blood can at least save 2 lives. Calculating on that information, Gridley High School and willing donors helped save at least 92 lives.

Wednesday’s blood drive was also a family affair. Cousins Cesar and Emmanuel (last names withheld) both donated together. Older cousin Cesar, a repeat donor and now a Senior at GHS says that he helped persuade his cousin to start donating as he does because, as he simply put it, “It saves lives”.

Emmanuel elaborates, “If you have the chance to help someone out, I don’t see the reason why you shouldn’t. It doesn’t cost anything.” He goes on to state that if you have something someone is in need of, people should help when possible, always keeping in mind that you should give back to your community. To date, Emmanuel has donated 2 times and of donating in the future, he says, “Definitely. If I can fit the criteria’s for donating blood and have the availability to do it, I would donate blood as often as I can.”

As far as being nervous, Emmanuel says that can be part of it, but the people at Vitalant make donors feel comfortable, play lighthearted music in the collection trailer, and provide beverages and snacks after donating to help with light-headedness. He adds that “Just seeing, like, the numbers of how many people you can help, it takes away from the nerves.”

If you would like more information about Vitalant and donating blood, please visit their website at vitalant.org.