CBU community supports dual causes at campus blood drive

Riverside, Cali. (Nov. 20, 2019) - Students, staff and faculty at California Baptist University donated blood on Nov. 18-19 for two causes important to the campus community—to support mobilization efforts and to supply local blood banks.  

Mobilization, in the Office of Spiritual Life, hosted the drive that supplied blood for LifeStream and in the process raised funds for this year’s International Service Project (ISP) volunteers. 

LifeStream will distribute the blood collected to local hospitals. Additionally, they will make a monetary donation on behalf of the blood donor to an ISP participant or the Mobilization scholarship fund.

Caitlyn Lloyd, a journalism and new media senior, said she believes it is important to donate blood as often as possible.

“My brother was shot in the [2017 Las] Vegas Shooting and I know that situations like that call for an excessive amount of donated blood, I think this is a good building process for those needs in those tragic situations,” Lloyd said.

Lana Sabbara, a nursing junior, said she gave blood to support her friend’s participation in Mobilization efforts.

“I have [type] O-negative blood, which makes me a universal donor. It is such an awesome feeling knowing that my blood can help anybody in need,” Sabbara said. “I am also glad the blood I am donating helps raise funds for my friend participating in ISP.”

AJ Juarez, an athletic trainer for the wrestling team and men’s and women’s golf teams, participated in the blood drive to support a student athlete who is participating in an ISP trip in the summer of 2020.  “I am in health care, so I understand the importance of blood donation just in case someone has an emergency and also because it is important for the general health and population for those who need it—overall it is for a good cause,” Juarez said.

Mobilization has provided opportunities for the CBU community to participate in blood drives for the past 10 years.