On Feb. 5, a blood drive will take place from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Welch Activity Center foyer. In order to donate, one must be at least 17 years old, or 16 with a signed permission slip from a parent.

“We collect blood from volunteer donors to help local and regional hospital patients receive needed blood products. We need over 550 volunteer donors each day to help us meet our partner hospital needs,” Ms. Kristine Pierce, account executive for the Versiti Blood Center of Indiana, said. Each donation has the potential to impact up to three lives. She said, “We have a goal of 43 procedures at Cathedral’s blood drive. If we meet that projection, we could potentially impact up to 129 lives.”

Theology teacher Mrs. Katie Lewis wrote in an email, “Be well hydrated, have eaten a good meal, be in good general health and present a photo ID at registration.”

Pierce said, “We currently have an urgent need for blood. We want to make sure that when a patient goes to the hospital and needs a transfusion for a cancer treatment or for their surgery, it is there. There is no replacement for blood. It is an easy way to make a huge difference in someone’s life. Raise your sleeve and be someone’s hero.”