Originally published on Instagram and Facebook on Feb. 12, 2026.

Students lined up in the parking lot on Feb. 12 to participate in Branham’s first blood drive in several years. The event, which was held in collaboration with Stanford Blood Center, secured an estimated total of 60 bags of blood, which equates to roughly 180 patients treated.

The event was facilitated in a van in the main parking lot and open to all community members at least 17 years of age who met the other donor requirements.

The blood drive falls under ASB President Lilly Murphy’s overall vision to bring back service-oriented events to Branham. The service commission created this year spearheaded planning the event.

“[The blood drive] promoted this sense of unity and the sense of [school] spirit,” Murphy said. “Service can bring people together in a really unique and cool way, and you’re also saving a life.”

All donors were rewarded a $20 gift card, red cord for graduation and Golden State Warriors gear, which helped incentivize many students like senior Audrey Duncan.

“I really wanted the graduation cord, but I’m also excited to help out people,” Duncan said. “It’s a pint of blood — that can do a lot for people, and having [the blood drive] at a high school, it’s really easy access. I’m really glad that our school is doing it because it’s supporting a good place.”

Some student participants were excused from 45 minutes of class while others donated after school. Murphy chose to participate after researching the impacts of donating blood.

“It was really eye opening to see how much blood is needed in the medical sphere,” Murphy said. “I was like, ‘Why not?’ [Donating] is a very easy process. After donating, I feel good — I feel happy.”

Next year, Murphy hopes that Branham will expand the blood drive into a larger, full-day event hosted in the cafeteria, allowing more participants to donate.

“A lot more people should do it,” Duncan said. “People should know the impact of helping and how even donating a little bit of blood can save someone’s life.”