Homecoming week is filled with fun activities: tailgating, the homecoming parade, college bowl, the football game and so much more. One event that often gets pushed into the shadow is the blood drive – but not this year.

Alpha Phi Omega, SMU’s fraternity dedicated to national service, sponsored the blood drive that began on Monday and wrapped up on Wednesday. Alpha Phi Omega has been sponsoring this event during Homecoming week for the last five years, and it is hoping for the most successful outcome ever this year.

“I am looking forward to getting very good results. We are expecting about 200 people, but I am hoping that 200 plus people are actually going to show up,” Alpha Phi Omega’s Public Relations Chair Nick Sanchez said.

Information sessions were offered prior to the blood drive to inform students of the procedures involved in giving blood. These sessions were designed to be informative and to assure the hesitant or fearful student that giving blood would not hurt and would be worth their while.

“Giving blood is a scary thing. I was very uncertain about it at first, but when I realized it was for such a good cause I had to give it a try and it wasn’t bad at all,” junior Jill Wright said.

The drive took place at the flagpole, where students and faculty alike gathered for free T-shirts, free pizza, soda and cookies after giving blood. As an incentive, Homecoming spirit points were offered to sororities, fraternities and numerous campus organizations for donating blood.

Carter Blood is the company that handles the blood donations. All blood goes to Scottish Rite Hospital and goes immediately to patients who are in desperate need. Scottish Rite is a non-profit hospital that offers services for no cost to children with a socioeconomic disadvantage.

“You can save up to three peoples’ lives with just your one donation. It is an amazing opportunity to help others in need,” Alpha Phi Omega member Durime Elmazi said.