Nick Long organizes some of the blood samples during the NHS blood drive at Russellville High School.

The National Honor Society at Russellville High School hosted their annual blood drive Jan. 28 and with an estimated turnout of over 500 people, the blood flowed all day.

Members of the NHS helped donors during the day by bringing them snacks and drinks after they had finished donating as well as helping them find an empty seat—when there was one available. For most of the day the seats were filled and the American Red Cross collected the donations at record pace.

Kevin Reid of the American Red Cross said this particular blood drive is one of if not the biggest in the state for a one-day, one location blood drive.

“We are thinking that we will get somewhere around 350 units donated today,” Reid said. “That is usually the average for this location and this school each year, but it is a challenge to keep the same numbers from one year to the next. This school has continually met that challenge.”

National Honor Society Sponsor at Russellville High School Deedra Moore said they had around 500 people register for the blood drive.

“That is a great number, but the restrictions often lower the number of people that are actually able to donate.”

One donor spending his afternoon at the gym location of the blood drive said it took him years before he decided to become a donor.

Chris Habig, Sr. said his wife had been giving blood for years before he finally decided to give it a shot.

“I was a chicken about it for the longest time,” he said. “My wife always gave—she had been giving for years—and she would always tell me it was not that big of a deal and that I should try it. It wasn’t so bad the first time and I’ve been giving ever since.”

Natasha Shackelford also donated and said she knows the importance of giving blood.

“I’m a paramedic so I see how important blood donation is,” she said. “It is something so important and vital to helping people in need around here and it is something easy to do. Just about anyone can do it and it doesn’t take that much time.”

With a national shortage of blood this year due to the particularly rough flu season, blood donation is as important as ever, according to Reid.

“The American Red Cross has been fortunate to keep the supply at a steady level, but every donation counts and helps us keep supplies up,” Reid said. “Anything from a bad flu season to a stretch of bad weather can affect blood supply.”