Story by Kamillah Morales
Staff Writer
The American Red Cross announced their partnership with Hello Kitty and Friends for a national blood drive from Tuesday, Sept. 1 toSunday, Sept. 20. The goal of the collaboration was to boost local blood supplies in order to avoid future shortages, and to encourage more people to donate routinely. Many locations across the United States, including in South Pasadena, were fully booked.
Despite many donors at blood drives having experience with donating in the past, it is heavily encouraged that inexperienced volunteers donate as well. The Hello Kitty and Friends collaboration with the Red Cross brought awareness of blood donating to new donors. Statistics from the American Red Cross showed that more than 17,000 new potential donors signed up to learn more about the partnership, and nearly 3,000 appointments were booked within a week of the exclusive plush mascot clip and surprise sticker pack being announced.
“I had a very good experience with it,” a donor said. “It’s something that’s quick and easy. It’s something that I”m very comfortable [with doing], especially knowing the outcome [of] it.”
The venue for the blood drive in South Pasadena was hosted at the South Pasadena library community room. Inside the dimly lit room, donors laid back while their blood was being drawn. Three blood-drawing stations were set up in the back of the expansive room, and donors were individually taken care of by the phlebotomists, trained health workers who specialize in drawing blood. The donors then received exclusive Hello Kitty merch in return for their donation.
“I feel really good for doing something good for this country,” Jake, a donor said.
Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood, and because blood and platelets cannot be manufactured, they must come from donors. The blood that donors give is used to save many lives through blood transfusions and cancer treatment. In fact, one blood donation can save more than one life. Blood transfusions are used to replace the blood lost in injuries or blood that has non-functioning components. About 6.8 million people donate blood in the United States, and the Red Cross provides 40 percent of those donations.
“I find [blood drives are] really great for everybody, and it’s also wonderful for whoever is able to participate if they’re able to,” a donor at the event said. “It’s fantastic, especially if it’s their first time. I would highly recommend it.”
The Red Cross and Hello Kitty collaboration succeeded in fully booking many blood drives in different cities. The event increased blood donation awareness and the American Red Cross has been working on its LifeBlood Fund, a five-year, $300 million national effort to strengthen and modernize the nation’s blood supply. As a main provider of the United States’ blood supply, blood drives and future projects serve to prevent blood supply crises and keep us with the blood supply demand.