Students seek donors for third annual blood drive

If you go

What: Blood Drive and Bake Sale

When: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1

Where: Gillispie School Gym, 7380 Girard Ave.

Who: Open to the public. Walk-ins welcome, appointments preferred.

Register: (858) 459-3773.

https://www.mysdbb.org/Appointment/location.html?did=49488

Three years ago Gillispie teacher Erica Hurley looked for ways to show community support for a school family whose student was facing cancer treatment for the second time. With the encouragement of the family, she organized a blood and bone marrow drive for the San Diego Blood Bank.

Over the past two years, 79 pints of blood have been collected and 30 people have entered the bone marrow registry. The goal this year is to collect 35 pints of blood.

Last year Gillispie students took an active role in supporting the San Diego Blood Bank by organizing a bake sale on the day of the event. Twenty-eight families, plus local restaurant Come On In, donated some 60 baked goods that raised $1,377. Parents and students staffed the bake sale booth throughout the day.

Students also volunteered at the blood drive. They helped with check-in, organized the canteen table, chatted with donors, and held signs at both school entrances on the morning of the event.

“This project coincides with the school social studies curriculum of helping people in the San Diego community to demonstrate good citizenship, commitment to the larger world, and a forward thinking attitude,” said teacher Hurley.