On October 28, 2025, the American Red Cross foundation held at blood drive at Hidden Valley High School. A large portion of Hidden Valley High School’s donated blood was given to Roanoke Carilion, which can be used to assist with cancer treatments, transfusions, labor, and more. High school drives make up approximately 20% of total donated blood, making them crucial contributors, especially considering the global donated blood shortage.

Senior at Hidden Valley, Kate Funderburke, was a large contributor to making this event possible. Kate and a few other volunteers advertised, gathered volunteer forms, and set everything up. She decided to manage the event because she recognized the good cause of it for the community. She explained the process of the drive and said “on the day of the drive, we checked everyone in, sat them in the waiting area, and do all the test and get drawn. Then we would give them food and drinks to keep things safe.” Funderburke remarks enjoying her experience on learning the behind the scenes of blood donation and recommends it to others.

Mrs. Dermott(staff) is a teacher at Hidden Valley and was another key contributor to making this event possible. She assisted Funderburke with organization, communicating with administrations, and reaching out to the right people at American Red Cross. She highlighted benefits of participating in the donation and said, “so many students do this because, gaining more experience dealing with adults, and it stands out to college, all while helping your community and a good cause” Dermott explained.

This blood drive raised awareness and was a success for both Hidden Valley and The Red Cross. Through the help of Mrs. Dermott, Kate Funderburke, and additional volunteers, the Hidden Valley community successfully addressed the need for donated blood, and demonstrating generosity and promote awareness. It’s likely that the Red Cross will return to Hidden Valley for a third time in a row, in 2026, accomplishing another year of a successful drive!