Seventy-one students and staff members attempted to donate blood in the school’s annual drive, sponsored by Southfield Student Congress (SSC) earlier this month.
Of those attempts, 38 were able to donate, said SSC Adviser Andrew Green.
“We would have gotten more if we had enough nurses,” Green said.
The drive fell just short of its goal of 40 pints, Green said.
Among those who donated was senior Jared Mims, who said he hoped his efforts would save a life.
Some who had hoped to donate were turned away either because of low iron in their blood, not weighing enough to give, or having had a tattoo in the last six months.
The blood drive is one of several community efforts Southfield High undertakes each year. The school’s next project is a canned food drive.
Students are asked to bring cans of food or Ramen noodles to their seventh hour class. The class that collects the most cans by mid-December will be rewarded with a pizza party, Green said.
For the last several years, math teacher Vernon Burden’s class has won the canned food drive.