John Dewey High School recently partnered with Genetix Biotherapeutics, Music Brings Life, and Maimonides Medical Center to host the first of three school-wide blood drives aimed at helping meet the urgent need for blood in local hospitals.
The event, held in the teachers’ cafe on Wednesday, December 3, 2025 from periods 3-8, invited students as well as faculty members to contribute a pint of blood to support lifesaving medical care.
The requirement for students to donate is that they must be at least 16 years old. Students that are under 17 need a parent consent form, while students 17 or older do not need consent and Student ID’s are required. Donors were treated to food and refreshments as a thank you for their participation in the school’s effort to gather local blood supplies.
Event director Yosue Brito explained one of the largest challenges the blood drive faces, “Since half of the school is ineligible to donate because they are not 16 yet, it slashes our participation quite a bit. To encourage participation we make lots of announcements and advocate a lot for the blood drive.”
While student turnout was solid, Brito noted that teacher participation remains lower than expected. “Not a lot of teachers donate to the event and I’m surprised to be honest. But it’s understandable because given their age, it puts a greater strain on them and they are also at work and they don’t want to get dizzy.”
Once collected, the donated blood follows a path through the healthcare system. “The blood goes from our school to a blood center where they check it and clear it then it goes to Maimonides or transfers to places that are in great need.” Brito said.
For Brito, who also serves as a Special Education Teacher and advisor of the school’s Key Club, the event’s purpose extends far beyond logistics. “The blood drive is very important to me because blood saves lives and there is no greater purpose in life than to save a life.”
Students who participated echoed that sense of purpose. Donor Logan Shirocky described the experience with enthusiasm and pride. “I feel really good and proud of myself,” he said. “I felt amazing during the process.” Shirocky encouraged others to take part in future drives: “I would recommend it because it helps everyone.”
He emphasized how they let him relax there for quite a bit and served food along with refreshments such as juices and water. Shirocky added that “It only takes like 5 to 7 minutes to do the actual blood donation.”
Along with food and refreshments, participants also received a shirt from Music Brings Life as a gesture of appreciation.
Adding a professional perspective, an on-site phlebotomy expert, Dr. Shafi, who has been working in the field for nearly a decade, shared his insight into the medical significance of each donation. “I have been doing this for 8 years, and I love this job.”
Dr. Shafi also offered crucial advice for first-time and returning donors, “Do not ever donate if you are tired, not healthy, or not at your 100%, and never under any physical distress.”
To ensure that donors feel safe and supported, personal interaction is a key part of their role, “I speak to them, answer their questions, stand in front of them and give my attention to the donors.”
They also described what happens after the blood leaves the school. “The blood goes into quarantine at Red Cross or CDC and they clear the blood. Forty-eight hours from now, the blood will be ready to be distributed at Maimonides Medical Center, which it goes to because we work there.”