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Blue Springs, MO —
As a junior at Blue Springs High School, Jacob Vogler had not given much thought to donating blood. But after a friend suggested he participate in one of the school’s blood drives, he decided to give it a shot.
Later, when Vogler told his dad about his first blood donation, he found out that he was following in someone’s footsteps – his grandfather’s.
“My grandfather has donated for years, more than 20 gallons (of blood) since he started donating,” said the 2012 Blue Springs graduate and current University of Missouri freshman. “It is kind of cool to follow after him.”
Vogler is on his way to matching his grandfather’s total after completing the Community Blood Center’s Gallon Grad program. The program encourages high school students to make at least eight donations, or one gallon of blood, with the CBC while they are in high school. Once the program is completed, students receive a certificate of achievement, a letter of recognition and they are entered into a drawing for a laptop computer. Out of the more than 300 students who entered the drawing, Vogler was chosen as this year’s winner.
“I was pretty excited when I found out I had won (the computer),” he said. “It has already come in handy. I have used it every day since classes started.”
All of the blood donations made to the Community Blood Center stay in the region. The blood center supplies blood to 70 hospitals throughout Kansas City, Jefferson City, St. Joseph, Lawrence and Topeka. It must collect 580 units of blood as well as 70 units of platelets each day to meet the needs of patients in area hospitals. The only requirements to donate is that the individual must be at least 16 years old, have parental consent and weight at least 115 pounds.
Vogler said even during complicated blood draws, he still is glad that donating blood is something he has continued to do.
“Sure there were a couple of times when it was hard when they had to stick both of my arms or dig for a vein,” he said. “But it makes me feel good because I am helping other people. I have known people who need blood or a transfusion and knowing that I am helping with that feels great.”
Vogler, who is majoring in mechanical engineering with an emphasis in aerospace, said even though he is in college, he still plans to donate blood. He said he wishes that more people would take the time to help with the critical need.
“I plan on continuing to donate my entire life or as long as they let me,” he said. “It is not just something to do. It is meaningful and you are helping save some other person’s life in your own community.”
As a junior at Blue Springs High School, Jacob Vogler had not given much thought to donating blood. But after a friend suggested he participate in one of the school’s blood drives, he decided to give it a shot.
Later, when Vogler told his dad about his first blood donation, he found out that he was following in someone’s footsteps – his grandfather’s.
“My grandfather has donated for years, more than 20 gallons (of blood) since he started donating,” said the 2012 Blue Springs graduate and current University of Missouri freshman. “It is kind of cool to follow after him.”
Vogler is on his way to matching his grandfather’s total after completing the Community Blood Center’s Gallon Grad program. The program encourages high school students to make at least eight donations, or one gallon of blood, with the CBC while they are in high school. Once the program is completed, students receive a certificate of achievement, a letter of recognition and they are entered into a drawing for a laptop computer. Out of the more than 300 students who entered the drawing, Vogler was chosen as this year’s winner.
“I was pretty excited when I found out I had won (the computer),” he said. “It has already come in handy. I have used it every day since classes started.”
All of the blood donations made to the Community Blood Center stay in the region. The blood center supplies blood to 70 hospitals throughout Kansas City, Jefferson City, St. Joseph, Lawrence and Topeka. It must collect 580 units of blood as well as 70 units of platelets each day to meet the needs of patients in area hospitals. The only requirements to donate is that the individual must be at least 16 years old, have parental consent and weight at least 115 pounds.
Vogler said even during complicated blood draws, he still is glad that donating blood is something he has continued to do.
“Sure there were a couple of times when it was hard when they had to stick both of my arms or dig for a vein,” he said. “But it makes me feel good because I am helping other people. I have known people who need blood or a transfusion and knowing that I am helping with that feels great.”
Vogler, who is majoring in mechanical engineering with an emphasis in aerospace, said even though he is in college, he still plans to donate blood. He said he wishes that more people would take the time to help with the critical need.
“I plan on continuing to donate my entire life or as long as they let me,” he said. “It is not just something to do. It is meaningful and you are helping save some other person’s life in your own community.”
