West Branch Area High School will host its annual blood drive Friday, Oct. 30, from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the old gym, with a goal of collecting at least 45 blood donations. The event is open to students, staff and community members. Donors must be at least 17 years old or 16 with parental consent. The event is held in partnership with the American Red Cross. Interested donors can visit redcrossblood.org to register.
At last year’s blood drive on Oct. 31, 2025, the American Red Cross collected 31 units of blood, exceeding its goal of 30. The event also helped fund a $500 scholarship for West Branch alumna Bella Koleno.
Joe Matson, a West Branch Middle School social studies teacher who organizes the annual blood drive, discussed his personal reasons for supporting blood donation.
“Being a part of blood drives is important to me as I’ve seen the benefits of giving first from having family members and friends in need as a result of medical procedures,” Matson said.
Matson also discussed the benefits of organizing the event.
“The blood drive is just a small part of the organ and tissue donation awareness initiative that I receive funding for. Knowing that students are being educated on these important issues so that they can make informed decisions about being an organ donor is very rewarding,” Matson said.
This year marks the fifth year West Branch has sponsored blood drives. Matson said teachers, students and community members have continued to support the event.
“The West Branch teachers, students, and community members have rallied time and time again to give blood donations that benefit folks that are in desperate need,” Matson said.
Donated blood can help patients undergoing surgery, receiving cancer treatments, recovering from serious injuries and facing other medical needs. The Oct. 30 blood drive will provide another opportunity for the West Branch community to donate blood.
