Student Government Hosts Second Blood Drive of Year

by Shir Levenson, SSLI '26

Today, high school students, parents, and teachers participated in a blood drive. Schechter hosts blood drives two-to-three times a year so that many community members can participate in the important mitzvah. The drive is operated through the Long Island Blood Center, an organization dedicated to providing high-quality care through community blood centers, stem-cell products, and vital medical services to patients and those in the local community.

Students over sixteen were able to give blood. (J. Greenfeld)

Elinor Schlissel, a junior, donated blood for the first time last year and returned again today to donate.  Schlissel feels that it is very important to donate blood “because each donation saves three lives. It's just a great deed to do for people who really need it.”

To donate blood, a person must be at least 16-years-old. This means that each spring, many sophomores are allowed to donate for the first time. Jonah Resnick, a sophomore, qualified to donate and decided to take part today. Resnick shared that he was "nervous at the beginning," but "everything went well.”

 

In addition to students donating, parents and teachers often take part in the day because of its importance and impact. Mr. Pitt-Stoller, a middle and high school English teacher, shared that he donates blood every time he has the opportunity. Pitt-Stoller has been donating "for about 15 years now" and was "happy to be able to be a participant today."

Pitt-Stoller said that his experience today “was very smooth and very comfortable.” He shared that the woman who set up his station “was funny and made [him] feel comfortable.” Pitt-Stoller explained that his blood type is O-negative, the universal donor, and he feels that it's important to say that if anyone has that blood type, they should take the opportunity to help if they are eligible.

Even though a person is eligible to donate at age 16, Pitt-Stoller did not begin to donate until a few years later. When he was older and decided to try it, he said that the experience in the moment was “easy and not too uncomfortable,” and it's “really worth it because you can potentially save people's lives.”

Today's blood drive was a success and an important day for all. Schlissel shared that donating blood was a positive experience, and she looks “forward to being able to contribute for many years to come.”

Shir Levenson is a writer for Paw Print Now and has been published on the site since December 2022. Shir is currently a sophomore at Schechter School of Long Island and can be reached at the following email address: slevenson26@schechterli.org