Across the nation people showed support for those injured in yesterday’s tragic terrorist attacks. Most felt it was all they could do. By mid-afternoon yesterday, the Lorain County Blood Bank was filled with people doing just that: what they could.
By 4 p.m. yesterday, one busload of over 40 Oberlin students had arrived at the bank and many more had made the trip in their own cars. Three more buses carrying over 70 students would arrive throughout the afternoon. What they found was a line of prospective donors winding around the building, served by approximately 30 volunteers, including nurses and firefighters and one LifeShare Bloodmobile.
Tony, a big, burly volunteer, helped take donors’ vital statistics as they first entered the line. He seemed impressed with the huge group of young people, mostly from Oberlin, that constituted the line. “I would have said that the older generation would have responded, those that had lived through World War II, an act of war,” he said. “But look at the line and you’d be hard pressed to find anyone over the age of 40. The MTV generation is stepping up to the plate.”
The many first-time donors had no reason to be nervous about donating as they were safe in the capable hands of volunteer nurses and firefighters from the area, many of whom, like Tony, had come from work or after night shifts to help out.
Senior Kelly Berry explained as she stood in the four-hour line outside the blood bank: “I’ve never given blood before. I feel very helpless right now.”
Senior Lauren Groenendaal echoed her sentiments, saying, “This is the first time I’ve ever given blood and right now this is the only thing I can do good for the world...otherwise I’d be sitting at Oberlin...this way, I can release in a constructive manner. The best thing is seeing people you know and you don’t know and knowing that they’re good people who come out to help. There are generous people in the world who I don’t know and that’s comforting.”
Oberlin students throughout the line repeated words like those of junior Derek Schleelein, who simply said, “It’s the least we can do.”
In a time of such chaos and violence, people from two communities — Oberlin College and the greater Lorain County — came together in support of their fellow Americans. The good that came out today was not lost on Lisa Mayles, Director of Public Relations, Marketing and Development for the Lorain County Blood Bank. “I’ve never seen a story this touching. The face of America is right here in this building and parking lot,” she said. “Today has been an incredible outpouring of compassion. We have volunteer firefighters, volunteers and people in the community who have donated blood, finished, and handwritten ‘volunteer’ on a nametag and started handing out cookies and juice. I’ve seen strangers helping...I don’t know who these people are, just that they’re good.”
The procedure is simple and, besides the long lines, uncomplicated. Upon arrival prospective donors are asked to fill out a form which asks questions about medical history and high-risk activity. Then their vital statistics are taken, their fingers pricked to test for anemia, more questions about high-risk activity are asked and then finally the donors are led to comfortable chairs to do the deed. All the while the long wait is being softened by Lorna Doones, Oreos and fruit punch.
While LifeShare was very appreciative of the student turnout, the organization has continued to stress the need for continued donations. “They want to ensure that they maintain the blood supply instead of getting a spike right now,” senior Jen Katz said.
To help facilitate ongoing donations LifeShare, Lorain County Transit (LCT) and Oberlin College have arranged several ways for students to donate blood in the coming weeks. Students showing their OCID to any LCT bus driver at any point today, tomorrow and Friday can travel for free to and from the blood banks in Elyria and Lorain.
Plans are underway for shuttle service this Saturday to take students to and from area blood banks. Whether or not the service will again be provided free of charge is unknown, but Dean of Students Peter Goldsmith was clear that any and all costs “should not be the concern of students planning to donate.”

Students are advised to call the blood banks to check on waiting time and hours of operation. Numerous students who volunteered to donate on Tuesday were either turned away or waited for up to three or four hours before being able to donate. LifeShare in Elyria can be reached at 440-322-8720 and the Lorain branch can be reached at 440-282-5608.
Lorain County blood bank will also be running a blood drive on September 24 and 25 from noon to 6 p.m. in Wilder Main. The Red Cross will have a drive October fifth from noon until 6 p.m. in Wilder 115.
Any photo identification is valid to donate blood.
Rumors of a bloodmobile on campus today or tomorrow are still just rumors at this time. The Student Union or other campus body will make announcements if the situation changes.