McKendrie Douglas (left) and Madge Zemp (right) a Blood Program Lead Volunteer with the American Red Cross for over 10 years and a teacher at Hartsville High School for nearly four decades.
Story told by Lori Dunn
When the Red Cross sounded the alarm about a national blood shortage, a high school in South Carolina answered the call with a record-setting blood drive. In fact, Hartsville High School has been leading our state for years, hosting nearly 40 blood drives to date, welcoming over 5,000 donors, and is the largest blood-donating high school in the state. Their recent blood drive in November was the most successful drive yet.
What makes Hartsville High School so special? Ask anyone, and they will say one name: Madge Zemp. Madge has been a Blood Program Lead Volunteer at the American Red Cross for over 10 years and a teacher at Hartsville High School for nearly four decades. She is an exuberant, high-energy, and wonderfully kind teacher who has inspired “her children,” the students of Hartsville High, to donate blood in order to help save lives. She educates them on the importance of diverse blood for sickle cell health disparities and talks about giving blood as an important public service. In her words, giving blood is “one of the most important things you can do for others”.
Madge is a proud Hartsville “Red Fox” and rallies the kids to participate in the High School blood drives. She encourages Hartsville students like McKendrie Douglas, the son of Brianna and Bruce Douglas, to start their own blood drives as part of the Red Cross’s Future Blood Donor Program. Having participated in the drives every year, McKendrie is inspired by Madge, and will soon be leading his own blood drives as well. His mom, Brianna, is the Executive Director of the Byerly Foundation, and supporting local community non-profit organizations is literally in his blood.
Hartsville High School’s next blood drive is on February 15th, 2024, and of course, Madge will be there. The American Red Cross is thankful for Blood Program volunteers like Madge, who tirelessly devote their time to others, and inspire students like McKendrie. They have saved countless lives and supported the Red Cross's blood-collecting efforts when it matters most.
If you are interested in becoming a Blood Program volunteer or donating blood locally, please visit redcrossblood.org
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