Saving lives and supporting local needs

The Green River Wolves once again earned the honor of being named the winner of this year's High School Blood Drive Competition, held annually as a contest with Rock Springs High School to see which school can get the most blood donations.

According to GRHS Student Council Advisor Marissa Kalinski, this was the 17th year of the event.

"The blood drive is hosted through Vitalant and is a statewide competition that we have been a part of for the last 17 years," she explained.

When discussing some of the challenges faced with hosting an event of this size, Kalinski said that the biggest challenge is always finding enough individuals who are willing and able to donate.

"We get the word out as much as we can using Facebook, the news, radio and word of mouth, but there are always people that we don't get to contact," she explained. "We also had more available time slots this year, which only added to the struggle of getting people signed up to donate."

Kalinski went on to explain how the Student Council works to get more participants, which includes each Student Council member being responsible for signing up five participants.

"Word of mouth and them contacting family and friends is the first way we promote it," Kalinski explained, adding that Wyo4 News is one of the sponsors, so the radio helps promote the event as well.

The school's hard work advertising this event paid off. According to Kalinski, this was the best turnout for donations that GRHS has ever had.

"We were able to fill our time slots fully and had walk ins, so we were able to get about 180 people in each day, which is crazy to think about," she said. "Our goal was met and surpassed!"

Kalinski said that while winning is extremely exciting for the council and community, it goes beyond that.

"Winning is really fun, don't get us wrong, but this is such a great cause, so winning is so much more than a trophy and bragging rights," she said. "It's validation for all the hard work we put in and knowing that what we do is saving thousands of lives."

In total, 714 pints of blood were donated overall between the two communities this year.

The annual blood drive has also been the unofficial kickoff of the Make-A-Wish fundraising campaign hosted by the two student organizations the past 20 years. However, this year, the two councils have came together to create an entirely new event. According to Kalinski, "Love Local" is an event designed to help with local community needs.

"Over the last couple of years, we have wanted to give less to Make-A-Wish and keep more of the money that we raise in the county," Kalinski said. "We were sending so much out when it was needed right here."

Kalinski explained that she and Rock Springs Student Council Advisor Amberlee Beardsley came together and decided that even though they still wanted to collectively donate to Make-A-Wish, it was time for a change.

"We are still giving enough money to Make-A-Wish Wyoming to grant one wish, but the rest of the money that we raise will be staying here in Sweetwater County and be given back to people in our community who are in need of some extra love," she said.

According to Kalinski, there was an application process for local individuals to request aid through Love Local. They had 15 applicants between the two communities.

Kalinski said in order to make the biggest impact, GRHS will still need to raise between $20,000 to $40,000 again this year. 

Many of the events for the community to take part in will echo those of past Make-A-Wish fundraising events, including a student versus staff basketball game at GRHS, a county talent show at Western Wyoming Community College, and partnering with local businesses such as Stellar Coffee, McDonalds, The Green River Bowling Center and the Recreation Center to host events throughout the week. 

As far as the logistics of each event, Kalinski said that the events will be hosted over a two-week period with GRHS and RSHS each being responsible for one week.

"All of our events are planned by the council, and we just talk to community members and businesses here to get everything planned out," Kalinksi explained. "Our community is amazing and loves to give, so it was really easy, and we are so thankful for the community that we live in because of that."

Love Local kicks off in Rock Springs beginning today, February 6, and will go until February 14, with Green River's events starting on February 12 and going until February 22.

Kalinski stated the importance of the two councils coming together in order for the best possible results.

"We chose to have them on different weeks so we can go to each others' events and support one another to raise as much money as possible, so our hope is that everyone will go out and support both schools and Sweetwater County as one," she said.

RSHS and GRHS share a Love Local Facebook page, where anyone can find details on all the events throughout the month.

The annual Make-a-Wish game will still take place on Friday, February 28 at Rock Springs High School, where a portion of the funds raised will be presented to the Make-A-Wish foundation and the remainder will be distributed to the Love Local recipients.