At Pottstown High School, Helping Is In Their Blood

Photos by John Armato

ABOVE: D'ssandra Garcia, Alexis Anderson-Perez, and Kay'lah Pearson-Moore were among Pottstown High School's Health Occupations students who helped out with the final blood drive of the school year.

AT LEFT: Myrical Giddens and Jacob Howard sport the blue bandages that marked those who- gave blood.

BELOW: Kay'lah Pearson-Moore checks Trojan Man's vitals before taking any blood. As we all know, Trojan Man bleeds blue and white.

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by Pottstown School District.

When it comes to life saving blood there is no substitution for the real thing.

The Pottstown High School students and staff who took part in the end of year blood drive know that every unit of blood donated can be used to help save three lives.

The spring drive, which is done in partnership with the Miller-Keystone Blood Center, resulted in the collection of 44 units,which went to our local hospital where it was used to save lives.

Student Aaliyah Palmer gives her all.

The high school Student Government sponsors the drive three times a year and Health Occupations students gain real life experience by helping in the collection.

Carol Graves, Miller-Keystone's Donor Resource Representative noted that once again this year PHS
was a member of 100 Club.

That's the name used to recognize those who donate  more than 100 units of blood during the year.

She said, "year in and year out Pottstown High School is one the top donors in Southeast Pennsylvania."

Health Occupations teacher, Michaela Johnson said "I am very proud of our students and staff who are enthusiastic and eager to help make a difference in our community." 

She added, "our school mascot, Trojan Man comes out to help encourage and support our donors. Patients, their families, and healthcare workers truly appreciate those who donate blood," Johnson said. 

"We have not yet developed the technology to create a reliable artificial blood supply, so blood is the one thing that we need people to continuously donate," she said.

Johnson added, "knowing that what we are doing is helping people in need gives us one more reason to say Proud to be from Pottstown."

Arraya Graves-Butler, Onjelay Nixon, Destinie Harris, and Rachel Martin are thanked by Trojan Man after they donated blood to help save lives during the spring blood drive at Pottstown High School.