Boxes stocked with medical supplies, reclining treatment chairs, and tables laden with rejuvenating food filled Brea’s North Hills Church for Brea Olinda High School Red Cross Club’s blood drive of the year on Oct. 2.
By the end of the day, the drive — staffed by student volunteers and American Red Cross medical staff — collected 24 units of blood. Each unit is approximately 450 milliliters, an amount that can save up to six lives.
Service events like the blood drive are opportunities for students to make an impact, according to Sean Yoon (’26), BOHS Red Cross president.
“Aside from the fact that [donations] save lives,” Yoon said, “it shows high schoolers that they can make a difference in their community.”
The American Red Cross – one of the nation’s largest blood suppliers – relies on high school chapters, which contribute 20% of blood donations nationwide.
At BOHS, that mission is carried out by BOHS Red Cross and its 132 members
For Red Cross secretary Brandon Wang (‘28), seeing the “real impact” of the club’s projects on the Brea community is what motivates him to stay involved.
While the club is most known for hosting local blood drives, BOHS Red Cross organizes other service-related events such as assembling care bags for veterans, inspecting emergency backpacks inside BOHS classrooms to ensure they are well-stocked, and creating cards for refugees.
“Although card making doesn’t seem like a big event, it provides a lot of emotional support for those experiencing crises, such as the Palisades Fires,” Allison Chun (‘28), Red Cross vice president, said.
The club’s mission, according to Yoon, is “to help people during times of disaster.”
Beyond serving the Brea community, BOHS Red Cross encourages its members to engage the organization on a larger scale. Members are encouraged to join Orange County Red Cross Youth Services in activities such as the Sound the Alarm initiative and International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Youth Action Campaign.
Wang — a member of OC Red Cross Youth’s Special Events Committee — participates at a regional level to connect with other Red Cross members.
“You meet so many people from other schools,” Wang said. “It’s a great experience to step out of my comfort zone.”
Currently, BOHS Red Cross is collecting donations for Totes of Hope – including hygiene products, rain ponchos, winter clothing, and other essentials — for care kits. Donations can be made weekly during BOHS Red Cross club meetings every Wednesday in Room 209 until Dec. 3.
BOHS Red Cross aims to expand its impact on the Brea community through disaster preparedness events, volunteer work, and more blood drives.
Blood donor Josh Orellana (‘27), who participated in the Oct. 2 drive, encourages eligible students to make a donation.
“It takes ten, fifteen minutes out of your day to save lives,” Orellana said.
