MC Students Donate Blood
MC junior Gustavus Dampier II
Students from Mississippi, Georgia, Utah and other states took part in a blood drive sponsored by Mississippi Blood Services at the A.E. Wood Coliseum Thursday.
Free T-shirts went to students giving blood, but that wasn't really the draw for MC junior Gustavus Dampier II, 22, of Atlanta.
A former member of the Hinds Community College track team, Dampier said it's just good to give blood to people really needing it. A kinesiology major, he hopes to become a physical therapist someday.
Founded in 1979, Mississippi Blood Services provides a safe and adequate supply of blood and blood components to patients in hospitals and other medical facilities around the state. The Jackson-based MBS serves 49 hospitals in the Magnolia State.
The MBS drive at the foyer of the A.E. Coliseum where the Lady Choctaws go up against Ozarks was buzzing with activity just hours before the 5:30 p.m. tipoff.
Their visit at Mississippi College was part of another hectic day with MBS blood drive vans traveling to Madison, Natchez, Cleveland and other communities. On Friday, Jan. 30, the blood drive will go to the Cloverleaf Mall in Hattiesburg from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. and at a Wal-Mart off U.S. 49 in Magee from noon until 6 p.m.
Blood donors at MC kept coming until the 3 p.m. quitting time. Freshman Jessica Torick, 19, of Pleasant View, Utah, who's studying interior design, was among the students showing up. It takes about 30 minutes to give blood.
MBS staffer Amanda McDonald was happy with the response. "There's always a need for blood," she said.
Another MBS blood drive is scheduled at MC in early February. The Feb. 3-4 drive will be at Alumni Hall from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. It is also open to MC faculty and staff. Participants all receive a free T-shirt and also have the chance to win an iPod.
For more information on Mississippi Blood Services or upcoming blood drives, call 601-981-3232 or go to www.msblood.com
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