Ashland University’s AU G.I.V.S. and Department of Recreation and Wellness held their annual blood drive on Jan. 22 from noon to 4 p.m. in Redwood Hall. Blood drive donors were welcomed by the volunteer group that were ready to help with sign-ins.  

Alex Hill, Director of CommUNITY and Belonging, attended the event and played a major role in planning the blood drive. As an AU Alum, he can remember attending the same blood drive back in 2015.  

“I started in the Community and Belonging Organization where I became the Adviser of AU G.I.V.S., which is a community service group on campus, one of the initiatives was they wanted to start up once again was the blood drive,” he said.  

Hill continued, “there is a great need for blood donors out in the world today.” Hill has witnessed first-hand the need for blood donations; his grandmother is facing a battle with cancer, requiring weekly blood transfusions. “If people are scared of donating, there are other ways to help,” said Hill.  

If you can’t donate blood, you can always volunteer by assisting with check-ins, escorting donors and providing snacks and drinks. Organizing a drive at your workplace, school or community center also proves to be helpful.  

Rachel McCool, a junior at AU, was one of the blood donors of the blood drive. “There is no reason to not do it; if you can look past the fear of needles just to help one person in the world,” said McCool. 

The blood drive was just one of the many events that took place during AU’s Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Week from Jan. 18 to 23. Throughout the week, students were brought together through service, conversation and fellowship, all while honoring the American civil rights leader, MLK Jr.