By Staff Writer: Jada Boprie

Your last chance to get stuck with a needle at school, feel a little woozy, and eat some free food will come on Monday, April 28, with the last National Honor Society Blood Drive of the 2013-14 school year. Howell High School has hosted three blood drives a year for as long as some can remember, and this time around is no different.

HHS students partners with the Red Cross to organize the event. The Red Cross supplies the nurses who draw the blood and arrange the distribution of the blood to the people who need it.

Students who are 16 should have signed up ahead of time, with a permission slip from a parent. Students who are at least 17 are allowed to be walk-ins. This year, there are 88 slots for students to donate blood, and the usual turnout is between 60 and 80. Donors should arrive at the auditorium lobby at their appointed times (unless they’re just walking in), sign in, take a number, and wait.

When their names are called, they will meet with nurses who do a medical history to make sure the student can be a donor. After the nurses draw the blood, donors should stick around the auditorium lobby for about 20 minutes to recover and eat a snack. After that, they are allowed to go back to class.

This year, seniors and NHS members Makayla Millington and Kathleen Laituri are in charge, with juniors Megan Bigliardi and Janice Kwan apprenticing. In addition to them, dozens of other NHS members volunteer to help look after donors and every NHS member brings food or water.

“We make sure everything is running smoothly as far as the students go . . . and we get the building ready,” says Millington.

Millington donates blood herself and understands what the students go through.

“The first time I was really nervous,” Millington says. She advises students to eat a good breakfast and drink water before they donate, and try not to be too nervous.

“Just think about the people you’re helping,” Millington says.