Union High School Students Answer Call for Urgent Blood Donations

This week, the American Red Cross has issued an urgent appeal for blood donations as the requests from hospitals are exceeding the available supply of blood. The organization points to the worst flu season in nearly 20 years, as well as the intense winter weather, sidelining many blood donors.  

With more than 400 of their blood drives canceled last month due to the flu and weather, the students of the Union High School National Honor Society have organized a Rimersburg Blood Drive set for Monday, February 9, 2026 from noon to 5:00 p.m. in the auxiliary gym of Union High School, located at 354 Baker Street in Rimersburg, to help address the blood shortage.

Individuals can go to www.redcrossblood.org to easily schedule an appointment to give blood at the drive or simply call the American Red Cross at 1-800-733-2767 or (1-800-RED CROSS).

All blood types are critically needed by the American Red Cross, but the organization particularly stressed the dire need for Type “O” blood.  Union High School liaison teachers with National Honor Society students, Anthony Beveridge and Harley Bloom, will be helping to manage the group at the blood drive.

“Without immediate action to replenish the blood supply, hospital patients who rely on transfusions—including trauma victims, mothers in childbirth, and cancer victims face serious risk. That’s why it’s so important to give blood now,” noted Beveridge.