SHU Community Donates More than 430 Pints of Blood to Help with Critical Shortage

Contributions flowed in over the course of eight, day-long collection drives

The Sacred Heart University community donated more than 430 pints of blood during its series of blood drives this semester, potentially saving about 1,300 lives during what is being called a national blood shortage crisis.

Over the course of nine weeks from February to April, Sacred Heart hosted eight, day-long blood drives to help alleviate the critical blood shortage in Connecticut. Faculty, staff and students showed up at each drive, ready to donate. In total, 434 people gave blood, and each donation had the potential of saving three lives, according to statistics.

In December, the Connecticut Blood Center (CTBC) announced a “blood emergency,” exacerbated by decreases in blood donations due to holidays, winter weather and concern over COVID-19 variants. Pandemic safety shutdowns at campuses and corporations across the state meant the CTBC could not conduct many of its regular mobile blood drives, according to a CTBC spokesperson.

“What was accomplished at SHU is nothing short of incredible. Amidst a blood crisis, your community made a direct impact on making sure that local hospitals, such as St. Vincent’s Medical Center, had the blood they needed for the patients they serve,” said Jonathan DeCasanova of the CTBC, in a letter to the SHU community.

SHU President John J. Petillo said he’s proud of all University community members who volunteered their time and donated. He was one of the first to roll up his sleeve in February.

Petillo said he’s not surprised the SHU community jumped on board to support the effort. “Students and employees believe in the University’s mission and vision, which call for caring and the promotion of good in society,” he said. “I’m gratified that we could make a difference and help with the state’s blood shortage.”

In the fall, Natalie Marques ’24, a biology major, began reaching out to fellow members of the equestrian team to combat state blood shortages with a campus blood drive. She hoped to encourage other athletes to give and, when she realized Petillo was also planning a campus event, a much bigger effort seemed possible.

“I’m very satisfied with the outcome of the drives,” Marques said. “We received more donations than originally expected and surpassed many goals. We originally had a goal of 20 donors when Dr. Petillo and I discussed the drive in November. Obtaining 434 donations shows how giving back is such a large priority for the SHU community. I’m excited to see where the blood drives end up in the future.”

Pictured: Natalie Marques and President Petillo donate blood at one of the drives this spring.