CMU Blood Drive

Story and photos by: Beth Nocerini

On Thursday, February 19, students and faculty were able to donate blood through the Central Michigan University Community Blood Drive put on by Versiti, the blood center of Michigan.  

In January of 2026, the Versiti Blood Center issued an emergency plea for blood donations. To encourage more people to donate, Versiti was giving donors a pair of pajama pants for donating or attempting to.  

“When I was born blood transfusions are what saved me,” junior Addison Mayfield said. She has been consistently donating for a while now and encourages others to as well. She heard about the blood drive through the CMU snapchat story post from another student.  

Sophomore Lorelei Spurgeon gave blood for the first time at the drive. “I heard there’s a shortage, and I thought it would be fun to try out, and I had the time to do it,” Spurgeon said.  

Spurgeon said she has always wanted to donate, but her weight has never meant the requirements until now.  

Requirements for donating blood include but are not limited to, being 16 or older, being in good health, and having a body weight of at least 110. For 16–17-year-olds there are height restrictions as well as needing a waiver with a parent’s signature.  

“It’s such a simple thing for us to give, even if we feel a little faint after. That could be the difference between someone dying and living,” Spurgeon said.  

Alexia LaFave is a student ambassador for Versiti and helps in setting up various blood drives and awareness activities around campus. “Last Tuesday I put on a single cell awareness event for students,” LaFave said.  

LaFave served as a joyful greeter to donators along with encouraging those walking by to donate. She said it was a steady turnout with no time slots being completely empty of donors.  

The next Versiti blood drive on campus will be this coming April. Those who donated at the February drive will be eligible by then to donate again.