FCCLA members host blood drive at THS

For the Tomahawk Leader

TOMAHAWK – Members of a student organization focused on making a difference in their community recently organized a blood drive at Tomahawk High School.

Alison Ewart, Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) advisor at Tomahawk High School (THS), explained that students in the club get the opportunity to take part in their choice of service projects.

Joseph Jones and Marie Weizenicker decided to host a blood drive on Thursday, Jan. 5.

Jones and Weizenicker noted that the blood drive was the school’s first since 2020.

The blood drive was part of the club’s community service project to promote and publicize FCCLA, with the overall purpose being to get students and staff at THS interested in donating blood and learning more about the process.

In an effort to generate interest, Jones and Weizenicker hosted an assembly, during which they discussed “the importance of community service, the importance of donating blood and how donating blood can save lives,” the organizers said.

Jones and Weizenicker worked with the American Red Cross to set up the blood drive, and went in with a goal of collecting 25 units – about 25 pints – and having 35 people pre-registered to donate.

The organizers worked throughout the day to check-in students and staff, support donors and serve donors food and refreshments donated by Kwik Trip, Pizza Hut, Subway and Reyes Coca Cola.

In the end, Jones and Weizenicker surpassed their goal, collecting 33 units of blood from 48 donors.

Jones and Weizenicker ultimately deemed their blood drive a “major success.”