Every school year, the organization OneBlood comes around to each high school in Palm Beach County for a blood drive. They come to Santaluces about 4 or 5 times a year and they usually collect between 40 to 150 units of blood each visit, according to a OneBlood representative.

When student give blood, they can help save up to three lives, according to the One Blood website. The student also receives five community service hours and a free OneBlood blanket.

“It was my first time giving blood,” said junior Alicia Marcano. “I was really scared but it wasn’t that bad.”

Some students gave blood because they knew it saves many lives.

“I actually don’t like needles but I give blood because its for a good cause,” said senior Unique Jones.”It was my fifth time giving blood.”

Students missed about a period and half of their elective courses in order to give blood. The blood drive is sponsored by SGA.

“Student Government hosts the blood drive in efforts to raise scholarship money for seniors,” said SGA president Misha Brahmbhatt. “So the more blood donated the more scholarship money.”

OneBlood provides a scholarship assistance program for students who organize and participate in the blood drives. The organization makes a $2o donation to the scholarship fund per unit of blood. That money is then awarded through scholarships to graduating Chiefs at the end of the year.