The Associated Student Body held its third blood drive of the school year Tuesday, Feb. 7.

The drive is a collaboration between the school district and the American Red Cross, which ASB has facilitated for nearly 20 years. This year, the three blood drives pulled in about 85 students each for a total of over 250 students.

“The blood drive … gives students the chance to donate blood and save lives,” senior and blood drive coordinator Sarah Salzman said. “[It’s really great] to know that your blood will go to someone in need.”

Each donation measures roughly one pint of blood, and each pint has the potential to provide for three separate transfusions.

“Knowing that the blood that you donate can go to as many as three people, even if you may not know them, I can imagine that it’s just a great feeling,” senior class Vice President Noah Garfinkel said.

Junior Abigail Christian said her donation experience was simple and gratifying.

“It feels really good to do it. It’s also really smooth. You go in, get your finger pricked, blood pressure tested and then you go and do it,” junior Abigail Christian said.

For senior and ASB President Josh Weisberg, the charity aspect of donating blood was especially important.

“It’s definitely the right thing to do. You’re giving away something you don’t need, and you’re helping a lot of people out, so it’s definitely a good cause,” Weisberg said.

The Oak Park blood drive is a collaboration between the school district and the American Red Cross, in which ASB acts as a facilitator; ASB has been facilitating blood drives at Oak Park for nearly 20 years.