Pearl River Central High School students faculty and staff participated in a blood drive Friday morning in support of The Blood Center.

Donors kept the two “blood buses” busy all day and members of the National Honors Society, which sponsored the event, served as triage helping donors with the initial steps necessary before each donation.

Kristy Womack of The Blood Center said the drive, held twice a year, typically yields 50 to 90 units of blood “which is incredible.”

“Every unit of blood can help up to three patients…,” she said adding the blood collected is used mainly in the southeast Louisiana and southern Mississippi areas.

“We are also part of a national network where if there is a disaster or terrorist attack, we are able to send blood to where it is needed most,” Womack said.

Womack said the event also helps provide scholarships for the school.

She said the center has a foundation that gives back to the communities in which they work.

“When the schools participate in blood drives, we give back to the schools by providing scholarships,” Womack said.

Amber-Starr Woods, a PRC senior, said it’s important to give blood.

“I have donated before when I lived in Florida and noticed a lot of people were not showing up,” Woods said. “I live with an aunt and uncle – one’s a nurse and the other is a doctor – and they have told me a lot of times how precious blood is in an emergency. I wanted to help.”

Karissa Kipp is the PRC National Honor Society sponsor and said the students are holding true to the ideals of the organization.

“NHS stands for service, character, scholarship and leadership,” she said. “Our students have been rotating throughout the day to help.”

Cole Benoit, NHS president, said the members have enjoyed working on the drive.

“This is our first year doing this and I had one lady come through today saying she was impressed with how smooth the process went,” Benoit said. “That makes me happy.”

Womack said anyone who may want to donate blood or sponsor a blood drive can call her at 601-798-9693.