WNCC hosts blood drive

The Western Nebraska Community College's Sidney campus hosted a blood drive provided by the United Blood Services mobile crew based out of Cheyenne, Wyo., on Monday afternoon.

"We travel to different communities in Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado and sometimes Utah to take donations," said Jill Vaudrin of United Blood Services. "Anyone who wants to donate will sign in and read information about the process, and then we will decide if the volunteer meets height, weight and other requirements that are standard for being able to donate blood."

Dayna Townsend, a WNCC aviation student, said she has donated to the cause whenever she gets the opportunity.

"The first time I donated was mostly out of curiosity," Townsend said. "Now when I'm given the chance to donate I will because it helps other people."

The United Blood Services is a nonprofit community blood center that provides blood and blood products to area and local hospitals throughout the United States.

Julia Contratto, a student in the nurse practitioner program, gave blood for the first time on Monday.

"I've never done this before, but because I'm in the LPN program I wanted to know the process and be able to see how much blood is actually taken," Contratto said.