On November 14th, 2025, Redwood High School’s Red Cross club hosts their annual blood drive in front of the ASB room.
By: Isabella Guijarro and Ashley Acevedo
Red Cross Club’s president.
Photo Gigantea.
Today, during lunch, the Red Cross club is hosting the blood drive this year, taking over from ASB, which has led the blood drive for the past 24 years since Mr. Miller brought it to Redwood through ASB.
Sehrish Hirani, ’27, president of the Red Cross Club, says, “Red Cross’s main mission is to provide safety and help to the community, and it really fits our motto. The American Red Cross, in general, has great ties with the Central California Blood Center, so it worked out really well.”
The Redwood blood drive began after the death of a student named Chris Caughron, who died of leukemia in 2001 at the age of 17. The first blood drives at Redwood were in Caughron’s memory and drove hundreds of students to donate.
Hirani says, “The blood drive serves as one of our main activities, so we were able to put a lot of time into and I think the change over from ASB was mainly so that it would fit more for the Red Cross Club, and I think we’re doing pretty well with it.”
The blood drive is held in front of the ASB room, where students with the proper permission forms filled out and the requirements met are able to donate blood to those in need. The central valley is always in need of blood, and donating would make a big difference in the community.
Red Cross Club’s Advisor.
Photo courtesy Gigantea
Mr. Adam Higareda, the Red Cross advisor, says, “Always the goal is the valley needs more blood, there’s not enough, and if there were to be a big accident or major catastrophe, our blood supplies would run low, and we need people to donate blood; it’s crucial for people to survive.”
The plan is to make the blood drive a tradition each semester, pushing students to donate and help save lives with the gift of life.
Hirani says, “It seems like a scary process, but it really makes you feel grateful for what you have, and it also allows you to feel like you’re helping the community in a certain way by donating blood”.
Isabella Guijarro
Isabella Guijarro is a three year member of the Redwood Gigantea and the managing editor. She is involved in the Academy of Law and Justice and apart of Mock trial. She wants to be a civil rights attorney after high school and plans on working for the paper for all four years of high school.
Ashley M. Acevedo
Ashley Acevedo is a passionate Arts & Entertainment writer and editor. She spends most of her time crocheting, listening to music, writing poems, and producing music. Ashley Acevedo taught herself how to play piano from the age of 7 up until now. She was born on June 22nd 2010 in Visalia California
Tags: clubs & lifestyles, rangers, red Cross club, Redwood, redwood gigantea, redwood high school, redwood journalism, redwood rangers, rhs, visalia ca
