Last year, one event brought long lines to a pair of nondescript tables on the second floor of Iowa Hall at Kirkwood Community College. Students went through the process of receiving a quick prick to the finger to support a big cause. The event is happening again, on Feb. 27, from 9 – 11 a.m. and is open to students, faculty and staff.
In collaboration with Impact Life, a non-profit blood center that supplies vital donations to people throughout the region, Kirkwood’s Content Marketing class under the guidance of Tara Allen, marketing instructor, is hosting the blood typing event.
According to Allen, blood typing events such as this one allow people to know what their blood type is and help get the word out about upcoming blood drives, the importance of knowing one’s type, and how individuals can support their community through a quick, and mostly painless, donation.
Dilara Guran, nursing major, said there are benefits to knowing one’s blood type. “It would definitely help when the patient’s coming to the clinic and when we need to do some type of procedure or treatment,” she said. “It would help us if you know your blood type.”
She recommended all students get their blood type checked, saying that it’s a good idea.
According to the Red Cross, there are four major types of blood, A, B, AB and O as well as positive and negative versions of each type. Other blood types exist but are extremely rare.
During the blood typing event, the marketing students will host a competition. The first person with an O negative blood type, the rarest type making up only 7% of the population, will receive a prize.
Allen said donations are vital in supporting the health of the community, and some of Impact Life’s biggest recipients are serving the smallest Iowans with the majority of their donations going to benefit University of Iowa’s Children’s Hospital.
Following the blood typing event, Content Marketing students will host a blood drive on April 15 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in Iowa Hall. Donors will be treated to snacks and a gift card giveaway. Gift cards can be donated to Central Furniture Rescue, a nonprofit serving the region by supplying much needed furnishings and hygiene products to families in need.
Allen said the students will also collaborate with Central Furniture Rescue by taking collections of new hygiene products through the month of March for a hygiene drive.
The collaboration continues with Student Life who will work with the class to host competition between clubs to determine which club has the most donors.
A student donation will count toward all clubs of which they are members. The winning club will be presented an award at the Student Life Spring Awards Banquet.
Categories: Campus News, News
