The University of Arizona Veterans Education and Transition Services sponsored an American Red Cross blood drive in the Rincon Room at the Student Union Memorial Center  Friday, Jan. 19, 2017. 

UAVETS first began sponsoring these blood drives in 2015 when the American Red Cross reached out to the group to guage interest. Since then, UAVETS has aimed to sponsor two blood drives every semester. 

“We like to think of ways to serve the community after military service, and giving blood is one way,” said Duan Copeland, blood drive coordinator and student veteran.

Donating blood can often be difficult for veterans because their service; being deployed overseas for a certain amount of time make some ineligible to donate blood.

The American Red Cross has a list of eligibility criteria to look over if you are considering donating blood, and goes into further detail about donating after having traveled outside of the U.S.

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“It’s more difficult for veterans to give blood, but we try to do the best we can and get as many units as we can,” Copeland said. 

Copeland said the last blood drive UAVETS sponsored set a record. 

Danielle Wells, a sophomore and a dependent of a veteran, donated blood at the event for the second time at a UAVETS sponsored blood drive. 

“I feel like it’s a good way to give back. If you can help, then why not?” Wells said.

Wells’ father served in the U.S. Air Force, and during that time was stationed in Germany with his family. Her father, mother and brother stayed in Germany for more than five years, making them ineligible to donate blood. 

Wells, however, was only in Germany from birth to the age of three, making her the only one in her immediate family eligible to donate. 

“Nobody else in my family can, so why not me?” Wells said.

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