Mississippi College Students Donating Blood
Kollette Clark's mother needed a blood transfusion in 2008 and ever since the Mississippi College sophomore has donated the gift of life.
"It scared her," Clark said while taking part in a Mississippi Blood Services drive on the Clinton campus Wednesday.
A 20-year-old accounting major from Merigold, Clark was one of about 50 MC students participating during the campaign's first three hours in the lobby of Alumni Hall. "It's good to give blood," the Delta native said.
The two-day MBS drive here ended Thursday, but the Jackson-based organization will return to the MC campus Tuesday January 26 from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Alumni Hall lobby. They will be back again on the Clinton campus March 24-25. Mississippi Blood Services donations serve 52 hospitals around the Magnolia State.
When it was all over, there were 67 donors registered Wednesday and 60 donors Thursday. New reports show 119 units of blood were donated during the two day drive at Mississippi College.
Clark donated during last year's Mississippi Blood Services drive at MC, and expects to make it a habit.
MC students and others taking part are eligible to win a 2010 model car from Watson Quality Ford. The contest ends Feb. 4. The winner of the new car, now decorated with balloons, will be announced later in the month.
"I hope I win the car, but I don't have that kind of luck," said blood donor Daria McCoy, 20, an MC sophomore from Covington, La.
The chance to win a car really didn't motivate McCoy to give blood. "This helps people in accidents who need blood," she said. "There are people in my family who need blood."
Last week's earthquake in Haiti that may have killed as many as 200,000 people is a reminder people that they can help reach out to folks in need in their own country, said Tammy Bouchillon, the senior marketing representative at Mississippi Blood Services. "A disaster remind people - it makes them more aware of the need," she said.
Some like MC professor Kent Mummert are longtime blood donors. He's given consistently ever since he was an MC freshman in 1976. And he planned to give to the latest MBS drive.
MC sophomore Joseph Carter, 19, a pre-med major from Petal, was back making another donation. It's the third time he's given blood at MC.
"It's really an easy way to help out," Carter said. "This makes it convenient. But it would be nice to win the car."
MC students and employees are also helping out with the Haiti relief efforts in recent days.
Just over $1,000 was collected during chapel services Tuesday at First Baptist Church Clinton, reports the MC Office of Christian Development. And another $600 came from other donations to boost the total to $1,600. More money will be collected during chapel services next week at Mississippi College.
MC is partnering with the International Mission Board and working with churches to help the people of Haiti in the midst of a crisis, says Eric Pratt, the vice president for Christian Development. It was the worst earthquake to hit the poor Caribbean nation in more than 200 years.
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