Things got a little bloody in Stotler Lounge on Friday.
As part of the Mizzou Black Men’s Initiative’s Black Men Rising week, the men, along with the five National Pan-Hellenic Council fraternities, hosted “Blood Brothers,” a blood drive aimed toward minority populations.
“You think of things like sickle cell and leukemia — things that require blood transfusions,” MBMI Coordinator Marcus Mayes said. “There are a lot of minorities who aren’t able to get those transfusions they need because they can’t find blood matches. When it comes to blood, you’re more likely to find a match if it’s somebody of your own ethnicity.”
The drive was part of the men’s ongoing initiative to give back to the community.
“We want to do our part on this campus and in our community,” Mayes said. “We’re looking for it to impact somehow, some way.”
As a result, 42 people showed up and donated, 28 of which were first time donors — something Mayes said the group is extremely proud of.
“It was a big, huge success,” Mayes said. “That ‘28’ is a magical number and definitely something that we’re proud of.”
Senior JaLisa Ray was one of those first time donors.
“I’ve never done it before, but a bunch of my friends are in MBMI,” Ray said. “I want to support them and the group.”
MBMI member Jonathan Butler gave blood as well.
“I want to help save someone else’s life, just like every other time I give blood,” Butler said. “It’s always a good cause.”
Craig Jackson, American Red Cross donor recruitment representative for Boone County, said the drive was not only focused on collecting donations from minorities, but from anyone.
“We’re trying to develop this as more of a ‘unity drive’ rather than a ‘diversity drive,’” Jackson said. “We want to bring the populations together, not separate them. That was one thing Marcus was big about — we want to get the minority populations, but we don’t want to seclude anybody.”
Because of the recent snow in Missouri, Jackson said the Red Cross has had trouble collecting a steady amount of donations. He guessed 1,500 to 2,000 potential units were lost, and he said he was more than thankful for Friday’s drive.
“A drive like this, where the goal is 25 units and we’re going to way surpass that, is key to replenishing our supply,” Jackson said.
Mayes said there hasn’t been a blood drive targeted toward minorities at MU for a few years.
“We’ve had a great turnout,” Mayes said. “Definitely a mixture of gender and different races and ethnicities.”
The donors might have left a bag of blood at the drive Friday, but they also left knowing they had just saved three lives.
“I’m excited,” Mayes said at the drive. “I’m glad we’ve got all of these chairs filled up.”