Seniors Ali Bououdina and Tom Ojo were at a Science Club field trip to the Pitt Observatory when they started talking to a student from another school where there is a Red Cross Club.
“We were interested due to our aspirations for the welfare of our community,” Bououdina said. “Through research and communications from prior members of (the Service Club), we were geared towards creating the Baldwin High School American Red Cross Club.”
The two managed to get the word out about the club through the school activity fair. The idea slowly began to pick up steam.
Bououdina serves as the club’s president and Ojo is the vice president. Seniors Kevin Hutchinson and Tumi Ojo as well as junior Mia Beardsley serve as board members.
When physical education teacher Tim Laughlin heard about the planned club, he volunteered to serve as a sponsor.
“We needed somebody to help support the blood drive as well as other activities in the school. Tom and Ali came to me and expressed that they wanted to get the club started, and we found a way to switch it over (from Service Club),” Laughlin said.
Laughlin hopes that the Red Cross Club will help students become more involved in the community.
“The goal is to provide more service opportunities for our students, whether that’s through our blood drives, food drives, or teaching first aid,” Laughlin said.
The club will sponsor and volunteer at school-wide events, such as the annual fall and spring blood drives, which the Service Club previously ran.
The spring blood drive, which occurred this past Wednesday and Thursday, enabled the club to put its plans and initiatives into action.
Senior club member Mikalah Beardsley said that helping to organize and volunteer at the blood drive was a meaningful experience that helped promote the club’s values.
“This is our first big event, and it feels really good to know that our club is making a positive impact on the community. It makes me feel hopeful that our future projects will make a positive difference in the school,” Beardsley said.
Ojo said the club also hopes to participate in more activities approved by the Red Cross Association, such as CPR certification through the club and blanket donations to charities.
“Our next project is making and donating blankets for local charities at the end of April,” Ojo said.
Laughlin is happy with the club’s goals.
“Ultimately, we strive to provide services and support for communities when they’re in need, so we are looking at what we can do for students both inside and outside of school,” Laughlin said.
