Blood Drive Support

Awareness & Understanding

Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood. Yet only about 6% of people donate each year. Start by watching the American Red Cross short video "Why Give Blood" on YouTube, then visit redcrossblood.org to read who can donate and why local supplies matter. Utah blood banks — including ARUP Blood Services right here in Salt Lake City — serve dozens of hospitals across the Intermountain region. Write down three facts that surprise you about blood donation. Talk to a parent, coach, or neighbor about whether they've ever donated. You're ready for the next step when you can explain in your own words what happens to donated blood before it reaches a patient.

Research & Investigation

Now dig into who runs blood drives in your community. Search for "blood drives near Salt Lake City" on redcrossblood.org and unitedbloodservices.org. Look up ARUP Blood Services (arupbloodservices.org) — they are Utah's nonprofit blood bank and welcome community partners. Call or email one local contact and ask: How do they set up a drive? How many donors do they need to make it worthwhile? What space and time requirements do they have? Check if your school, church, or rec center has hosted a drive before. Take notes you can refer to later. You're ready for the next step when you can describe the basic requirements to host a successful blood drive event.

Planning & Preparation

Pick a real venue — your school gym, a community center, or a church hall — and a target date at least three weeks out. Work with your blood bank contact to confirm they can staff the event. Then build your plan: How will you recruit 20–30 donors? Design a simple flyer using Canva (free at canva.com). Draft social media posts and a short email announcement. Create a sign-up sheet — Google Forms works great and is free. Map out the day: arrival time, check-in table, donor flow, snack station, and cleanup. Share your draft plan with an adult mentor and get feedback. You're ready for the next step when you have a written event plan with a confirmed date and venue.

Taking Action

It's time to recruit donors and run your event. Post your flyers in high-traffic spots — school hallways, the library, local coffee shops. Send your email and social posts. Follow up personally with at least ten people. On event day, greet donors warmly, keep the check-in line moving, and make sure the snack area is stocked (juice and cookies help donors recover). Stay in contact with the blood bank team throughout the day. Count every donor who completes a successful donation. Take photos you can use later. You're ready for the next step when your event has wrapped up and you know the total number of units of blood collected.

Leadership & Expansion

One successful drive is great — a recurring program is even better. Write a short recap report: How many donors came? How many units were collected? What worked and what didn't? Share your results with the venue and your blood bank partner. Pitch the idea of making this a two-times-per-year event. Recruit one or two friends to help you run the next drive so it doesn't all fall on you. Consider presenting your results to a student government, HOA, or neighborhood council meeting to inspire others. You're ready for the next step when you have a plan (even a rough one) for a second blood drive within the next six months.

Impact & Reflection

Take stock of what you accomplished. Use data from your blood bank partner — ARUP or Red Cross can tell you how many patients were helped by your donations. One unit of blood can save up to three lives, so do the math on your event's impact. Write a one-page reflection: What surprised you? What would you do differently? How did organizing this event change how you think about community service? Post a thank-you message to your donors on social media and tag your blood bank partner. Save your event plan and contact list — it's the foundation for everything you do next. You're ready for the next step when you can clearly explain the community impact of your event and name one way to make the next one better.