LifeShare Community Blood Services, a nonprofit organization located in northeast Ohio, is one of two organizations that host blood drives on Kent State’s campus.

There are 10 to 12 LifeShare blood drives hosted each semester at Kent State and each blood drive offers rewards to students who donate. “We have a tactic we use with each blood drive,” Eriane Matthews said, a senior integrated health studies major and intern at the Office of Health Promotion. “Each student who successfully donates receives a Chipotle gift card for giving blood.”

While this tactic may be appealing to students, freshman exercise science major Stephanie Low likes donating with LifeShare for other reasons as well. “I’ll donate anywhere but I really like LifeShare because they are all extremely professional and make the process easy. I like that they let you know what types of blood they really need and are always clear about when you can donate next,” Low said.

LifeShare also has a scholarship program associated with Kent State. Scott Dotterer, the coordinator at the Office of Health Promotion, says that students should note that they can apply for the scholarship whether or not they donate blood.

According to the LifeShare University Health Services Tuition Scholarship application, any student who is a U.S. citizen enrolled as a full or part-time student and in good academic standing can apply by submitting a 1 page typed statement about why the student chose their college major and any contributions they have made within their field of study.

Matthews stated that for every 35 pints of blood collected at Kent’s campus, one scholarship is created. Scholarship applications are available at all LifeShare blood drives, at the DeWeese Health Center and on the University Health Services website.

Because of winter weather, a blood drive on February 5 was cancelled but successfully rescheduled. Students can find out what blood types are needed by checking LifeShare’s website prior to donating. As of this week, all blood types are needed within the next week and B+ is critically needed.

Freshman exploratory major Holly Chesnick has donated with LifeShare at least 10 times. “If my body is going to make enough blood for me, I might as well share with someone who needs it,” Chesnick said.

LifeShare blood drives are usually hosted in the Student Center and advertised around campus through fliers and emails.

Contact Erin Zaranec at [email protected].