On Wed. March 5, 2014, the Archer Community contributed to the national blood drive. Fifity-six students participated for  St. John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, which translated to “33 units of blood that helped save 99 lives” according to James Russo, Community Service Board adviser.

Potential blood donors must be sixteen or older and weigh over 110 pounds. Parental consent is required for those younger than seventeen. In Southern California, only three percent of the population donates blood.  With a “whopping turnout,” as described by Russo, the Archer community doubled that percentage.

The Parlor was a makeshift donation center, with snacks and water provided to keep student and adult donors well hydrated and fueled after giving blood.

The Community Service Board organized the event. Three 11th graders—Dana Wood ’15, Emerson Krull ’15 and Arden Kelly ’15—“spearheaded the entire event from the start to the finish,” Russo said. They ran everything from coordinating student sign ups, organizing donor time slots and providing information “dispelling some of the myths concerning blood donation.”

The Community Service Board says they “could not have done it” without the 11th graders and all the donors.