On Wednesday, Feb. 1, students, faculty and community members filed into the Eastchester High School cafeteria to participate in a Red Cross Blood Drive that was organized by the Eastchester Government Organization (EGO). 

The blood drive ran from 2:30-7 p.m., with 38 individuals showing up to donate for a good cause. Between Wednesday’s drive and another held in October, EGO events have collected 61 units of blood, an amount that the Red Cross estimates could impact as many as 183 lives.

The Red Cross is currently experiencing the worst blood shortage in over a decade.

Ryan Deasy, the treasurer for the EGO Class of 2023, served as the chair for Wednesday's event and said that he volunteered for the job because it seemed like a fitting way to kick off the last few months of his time at Eastchester High School.

"I just felt like I wanted to do more, just getting involved in the community and the high school,” said Deasy. “I thought it would be a good idea to put a little bit of stress on myself, especially with senior year winding down, and help out to make sure this was a successful event.”

Deasy credited other EGO officers for their commitment to the event, noting that this drive—and the one EGO held in October—would not have been nearly as successful if not for their efforts.

“I put it on my fellow officers to advertise, reaching out to everyone to let them know about the blood drive and get them to donate,” he said. “We had officers putting up posters around town, taking slots to sign people in, and giving out snacks to donors.”