CONNORVILLE — The Buckeye Local High School Student Council is seeking donors to step up and give during its upcoming blood drive in March.

The student organization is joining forces with Vitalant, formerly the Central Blood Bank of Pittsburgh, for the lifesaving campaign on March 27. Donors can take part from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the junior high gym; community walk-ins are permitted, but appointments are recommended. Medical personnel will oversee the collection while student council members will assist with registration and other stations.

“There are 74 members total and about 20 will help with this event,” said organizer Charles Sempkowski, who is a student council co-advisor along with Michael DiCenzo and Myste Carter. “The volunteers will assist with getting students to the gym for their appointments, escorting people to a seat after they’ve donated and getting them snacks and drinks while they recover.”

He said the goal is to gather 25 units of blood. Potential donors must be at least 16 years old, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and be in good health. In addition to saving lives, the blood drive has also supported the student council by providing scholarships to graduating seniors. Sempkowski was looking for a good turnout at the event.

“I hope we can get members of the community to come out and help support the cause,” he added.

The student council has organized the blood drive for more than a decade, except one year because of COVID, and blood collected at the event has been provided to local hospitals including those in Weirton, Wheeling, Pittsburgh and Barnesville to support cancer and surgical patients, the elderly, accident victims and people with blood-borne issues, among others.

To make an appointment, go online to donateblood.centralbloodbank.org and choose “Donor Login” if you have donated with Vitalant or Central Blood Bank before or “New Donor” for first-time contributions. Schedule an appointment using the group code HS010245. Otherwise, contact Sempkowski at charles.sempkowski@buckeyelocal.net or call Vitalant at 412-209-7000 or Rachel at 412-736-5506. More information is also available at vitalant.org or its Instagram, Twitter and Facebook pages.