October 30 - The Smithfield JROTC Packer Battalion and the American Red Cross partnered this month to conduct their first two blood drives of the school year: the teacher/ community drive on October 15th and the Student/ Community drive on October 30th. Teachers, students, and community members together donated 109 pints -38 pints from the first drive, and 71 pints from the second drive. The result is having the potential to save over 325 lives. Exceeding the Red Cross goals again, both drives were a huge success! With cadets running the drive flow by working stations and donor flow, they assisted the Red Cross and donors in managing a smooth drive. With these donations, Smithfield High School aims to maintain their spot as the top donating high school in Virginia for the 6th year in a row. The next scheduled drive is February 19, 2025.
Cadet Public Affairs Officer, Courtney Martin, says,”we hope to continue filling the appointment spots, so save the date and support the #1 school in Virginia! We thank the SHS students (especially those first time donors), faculty, and community members who came out, rolled up their sleeves, and donated. We cannot thank you all enough.”
Written by: Cadet, Cheyenne Scott, JROTC Packer Battalion Assistant Public Affairs Officer
Pictured: LEFT: KADENCE DISTEFANO, RIGHT: KENLY OWNEY