Building Leaders Through Service:
Red Cross Blood Drive Initiative
By Katy McDonald
The Volunteer State Student Nurses’ Association( VSSNA) of the Volunteer State Community College, Gallatin, Tennessee, was honored to receive the Littmann ® Stethoscope Leadership Development Grant to support a series of American Red Cross blood drives during the Spring 2026 semester. The grant provided an opportunity for nursing students to develop leadership skills while serving an important community need. Through planning, promoting, and supporting blood drives on the Gallatin and Springfield campuses, students gained valuable experience in communication, teamwork, project management, and community engagement.
One of the primary goals of the project was to increase student involvement in the SNA and provide meaningful leadership opportunities outside of the classroom. The blood drives successfully engaged nursing students in chapter activities by offering hands-on roles in donor recruitment, event promotion, volunteer coordination, and day-of-event support. Students worked collaboratively with faculty advisors, campus administration, and American Red Cross personnel to ensure successful events. Participation in the project allowed students to experience the impact that organized service initiatives can have on both community health and professional development.
Outcomes
The project increased the visibility of the SNA across the Volunteer State Community College. During the Spring 2026 semester, chapter membership rose from 36 members to 42 members, representing a 16.7 % increase. While it is not possible to determine whether the blood drive initiative directly caused this membership growth, the project provided a highly visible opportunity for students to learn about the organization and become involved in chapter activities. The blood drives highlighted the chapter’ s commitment to leadership, service, and professional engagement and may have contributed to increased interest in membership.
The blood drive initiatives were highly successful. The Gallatin Campus exceeded its donation goal with 23 donors and 24 blood donations collected. The Springfield Campus reported 23 donors and 19 blood donations collected. Together, the two campuses contributed 43 blood donations to support patients in need throughout the region. These results reflected the dedication of student volunteers, faculty support, and strong collaboration with the American Red Cross.
The project demonstrated adaptability and responsible stewardship of grant funds when a planned blood drive at the Livingston Campus was canceled by the American Red Cross and could not be rescheduled within the project timeline. Rather than allowing purchased supplies to go
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