Riverside, Calif., January, 2001-- It takes more time to fill out the questionnaire than to have the blood drawn. Getting your finger pricked for the iron content reading stings more than the needle which draws the pint from your inner elbow.

Forty-four students and staff of La Sierra University registered to donate about an hour of time, and a pint (or a pound) of blood on Monday afternoon, Jan. 22. Blood Bank technicians and nurses set up tables and equipment in the Student Center.

According to the Blood Bank of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, LSU students and staff donated 33 usable units (of approximately a pint each) of whole blood. Each unit can be broken down to components of platelets, plasma, or whole blood, and can save or improve the lives of up to three people.

Stacy Gurgel, freshman psychology major, pre-seminary, gives the gift of life in a practical way: donating blood. She says she's donated blood three times already. The Blood Bank does not accept donations from people younger than 18 years of age, so Stacy is well on her way.

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Story and photos by Christy K. Robinson