The National Honor Society hosted its annual spring blood drive last week, with more than 70 students donating; there were so many donations that Carter Blood Care ran out of supplies. They gave out snacks and drinks and also walked some students to their classes if they needed assistance. They had a box full of ice packs for those who felt lightheaded, collapsed or fainted. Staff and community members were also welcome to come and donate. Senior Emma Cocking was one of the members who helped work the blood drive.

“Unfortunately, I was not able to donate,” Cocking said. “But, I did go and help all of the students who did. I helped keep them company and handed out snacks or walked them to class.”

It was Carter Blood Care’s second trip this year to the high school. Students and staff donated in the gym, with the donation bus in the parking lot for parents and community members. Senior Ryan Brown donated blood for the first time. 

“I was really scared. Everyone was talking about how the needle was so big and it hurt, but once I actually did it it was fine,” Brown said. “The guy taking my blood talked to me about dinosaurs and it helped calm my nerves a bit”

There will be a third drive held later in the school year. English teacher Lauren Rodriguez encouraged her students to invite their parents or anyone out of school to come down and feel free to donate blood. The Carter BloodCare organization hosts a competition each year, giving a trophy to the school in each division that had the most blood donors. The competition is between all of the schools in the region.

“We compete against all other 3A schools in their region which is really big — like all the way to Waco, Temple and San Marcos,” Rodriguez said. “Teague has won the past few years, if they can win, we can win. So our goal is to win just to beat Teague.”