Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech) hosted its biannual blood drive on March 18, 2025, in collaboration with Vitalant. Organized by Bioscience, the event allowed students 16 and older to donate blood, with parental consent required for those under 18. In return for their donation, students received three hours of community service and a free T-shirt. Snacks and water were also provided, before and after the donation process, to help students stay hydrated and recover.
Leading up to the drive, Bioscience held sign-ups during Foothill Intervention, Reinforcement and Enrichment (F.I.R.E.) and lunch from March 11 to 14, 2025. On the day of the event, students arrived at their scheduled times, checked in and completed a health screening before boarding the donation vans.
Rhea Gill ‘25, HOSA Blood Drive Director, highlighted the significance of student participation. “I think that hosting a blood drive is important because it shows that students on campus can be active in community service and helping others in small ways such as donating your blood,” Gill said, adding, “This is an integral part of the healthcare system—getting blood to people who need it—and there’s always a need for blood.” She also reassured hesitant students, saying, “Donating blood is not as scary as it seems, and the phlebotomists, they’re always really nice.”
For some students, this was their first experience donating. Liam Padgett ‘27, inspired by his parents’ past blood donations, shared his thoughts before donating himself. “Yeah, it’s my first time. I’m a little excited because I’ve never done it, so I want to see what it’s like,” Padgett said. Though initially nervous, he remained optimistic, stating “I hope it goes to someone who needs it.”
Others, like Benjamin Barnett ‘26, had donated before and were eager to do so again. “This is my second time. My first time was at a blood drive last year,” he said. “Just the lovely atmosphere and the knowledge that I’m helping people” motivated him to return. While he admitted to being “a little nervous before donating because I can be a little squeamish around blood,” he ultimately found the experience rewarding. Barnett went on to say, “I hope it saves a lot of lives who need the blood that I’ve donated today.”
Jaylee Kiel ‘26 described the experience as different from what she had expected. “The hour leading up to it was a little nerve-racking just because a needle is going into your arm and then you can see all the blood coming out . . . ,But afterwards, it was fine,” Kiel said.
By the end of the drive, Foothill Tech students had donated 57 units of blood which can save up to 171 lives. Many donors encouraged others to participate in future events. “I would absolutely encourage people to donate. It’s a pretty much painless procedure, and it helps out so many people,” Barnett stated.
With snacks, water, T-shirts and community service hours offered as incentives, the blood drive provided students with an opportunity to give back in a meaningful way. Their participation contributed to the local blood supply
