TRAVERSE CITY -- Every seven weeks, Mariah Sika cuts fatty foods and dairy from her diet. Eliminating extra triglyceride from the system is important for blood and plasma donors like Sika, 18.
"I've been donating blood and plasma since I was 17," said Sika. "I've donated red-blood cells five times and plasma three times."
Michigan Community Blood Center Northwest collects a minimum of 50 units a day, draws 13,000 units annually, and self-sufficiently supplies Munson Medical Center and its affiliates.
"I donated when they came to Central High School, then I go to the center because it's so close," said Sika.
The American Red Cross is conducting nine blood drives through July, an effort that will span four area counties and heighten convenience to residents, working teens and vacationers.
High school students make up a large percentage of blood collection donors. When visiting TC West or Central, the Blood Center anticipates it will collect 75 units.
"Knowing that it stays in our region, knowing that I'm helping the people up at the hospital and stuff, I just think that's really cool," said Sika.
On a larger scale, the Great Lakes Region Red Cross collects 700 units daily to supply the 70 hospitals across a 65-county region. College and high school students account for 105 units of the 700 daily units.
Red Cross officials said donations drop when students leave school and summer activities increase. In addition to blood drives, the Red Cross and Michigan Community Blood Center scheduled other events to raise awareness and spark summer donations.
"We're trying to come up with more ways we can get the high schoolers to come in during the summer because they are very important," said Sandy Warner, of Michigan Community Blood Centers Northwest.
Williamsburg resident Phil Knapp has donated 17 gallons of blood since his first effort in 1951.
"That's back when they were getting whole blood. Now they separate it, and the blood I'm donating goes to three people, Knapp said. "I get a kick out of thinking that that's what I'm doing whenever I donate."
Potential blood donors must be at least 17 and weigh a minimum of 110 pounds. Red blood cell donations can be made every 56 days. Plasma donors receive red blood cells back, which allows donations to occur every 28 days.
"It doesn't take that long to do," said Sika. "It's just a simple thing that helps so much."
Upcoming blood drive events:
GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY
June 23rd: Sam's Club, 2401 N. US Highway 31, 12 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.
June 29th: Civic Center, 1213 W Civic Center Dr., 12 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.
July 17th: M Bank, 3530 North Country Dr., 12 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
LEELANAU COUNTY
June 26th: Elmwood Township Hall, 10090 Lincoln Road, 12 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.
CRAWFORD COUNTY
July 1st: Grayling American Legion, 106 James Street, 12 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.
July 2nd: Grayling Free Methodist Church, 6352 West M-72, 12 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.
OTSEGO COUNTY
June 24th: Otsego County Sportsplex, 1250 Gornick Avenue, 10:30 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.
July 7th: F.O.E. Eagles Club, 515 S. Wisconsin Avenue, 10:00 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
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