At Bloomsburg, the Red Cross Club is proving that humanitarian work doesn’t just happen on the frontlines of disasters — it starts right here on campus, with students rolling up their sleeves to make a difference.
Led by President Sarah Humes, a senior nursing major, the club serves as a student chapter of the American Red Cross, carrying out the organization’s mission through service and outreach.
“The purpose of the club is to organize blood drives on campus as well as gain blood donors and volunteers,” Humes explained. “The goal is to ensure that the campus blood drives run smoothly so blood can be donated for those who need it. We check people in and provide water and snacks for those who are donating.”
Every semester, the Red Cross Club hosts two blood drives, often drawing large numbers of student and faculty donors. But the group’s work goes beyond the blood bank.
Vice President Cailtlyn Fischer, a junior nursing major, says, “Members also run disaster relief fundraisers, organize hands-on CPR trainings once a year, and write letters to veterans.”
That volunteer spirit has also fostered a strong sense of community within the group. “A lot of the club is nursing majors, so there are a lot of friendships and connections made,” said secretary Morgan Addy, a senior nursing major. “But any major can join. Students should join because they can help out the community and get to know more students on campus.”
For members like Treasurer Lily Gress, a sophomore nursing major, the club also offers professional benefits.
At Bloomsburg, the Red Cross Club is proving that humanitarian work doesn’t just happen on the frontlines of disasters — it starts right here on campus, with students rolling up their sleeves to make a difference.
Led by President Sarah Humes, a senior nursing major, the club serves as a student chapter of the American Red Cross, carrying out the organization’s mission through service and outreach.
“The purpose of the club is to organize blood drives on campus as well as gain blood donors and volunteers,” Humes explained. “The goal is to ensure that the campus blood drives run smoothly so blood can be donated for those who need it. We check people in and provide water and snacks for those who are donating.”
Every semester, the Red Cross Club hosts two blood drives, often drawing large numbers of student and faculty donors. But the group’s work goes beyond the blood bank.
Vice President Cailtlyn Fischer, a junior nursing major, says, “Members also run disaster relief fundraisers, organize hands-on CPR trainings once a year, and write letters to veterans.”
That volunteer spirit has also fostered a strong sense of community within the group. “A lot of the club is nursing majors, so there are a lot of friendships and connections made,” said secretary Morgan Addy, a senior nursing major. “But any major can join. Students should join because they can help out the community and get to know more students on campus.”
For members like Treasurer Lily Gress, a sophomore nursing major, the club also offers professional benefits. “I get great experience from this club with my communication skills and building confidence,” she said.
With Allison Andrey, a senior nursing major, handling social media and PR, the group is always looking for ways to spread the word and bring new students into their chapter.
Whether they’re running a blood drive or writing notes to veterans, the Red Cross Club continues to give Bloomsburg students a way to serve others while building skills and friendships along the way. Or, as Humes put it, it’s about much more than volunteering hours: “it’s about being part of something bigger than yourself.”
