By Victor Ledezma
American Red Cross Utah/Nevada Region Volunteer

WEST POINT, Utah — At just 15 years old, Taytum Drysdale set out to do something that would matter — not just to her, but to her entire community. Competing in the Miss Junior West Point pageant, a city-sponsored scholarship competition in her small Utah town, she was tasked with leading a service project. While many contestants opted for food drives or volunteer work at shelters, Taytum had a different idea.

“I knew I wanted to do something that could help save lives,” she said. “And I knew a blood drive could do that.”

It wasn’t a decision born of a dramatic moment or a sudden epiphany. Instead, it was a quiet determination, the kind that builds over time when you’re searching for a way to make a real difference. What she didn’t know then was how deeply it would connect her to the people around her.

By the time the blood drive was over, Taytum had collected 45 units of blood, enough to potentially help save many lives. But the numbers only tell part of the story. What unfolded over the months of planning and on the day of the event was a testament to youthful ambition, community spirit and the extraordinary impact of people coming together for a common cause.

The Math of Saving Lives
Taytum, a high school sophomore, is still too young to donate blood herself. But she had done her research. One pint of blood, she learned, can help save more than one life. Taytum knew the blood drive would take a lot of determination, but it was more than just a service project now.

“I just started early,” she said, a simple explanation for what would become a months-long effort.

She began planning in January for a blood drive scheduled for May 31, 2025. Timing, she quickly realized, was everything. A previous attempt by a prior pageant contestant had fizzled because she hadn’t reached out to the American Red Cross of Utah early enough. Taytum wasn’t going to make the same mistake.

By starting months in advance, she gave the Red Cross time to line up staff and resources. Initially, they told her she’d have room for 40 donors. But as sign-ups poured in, that number grew to 50. “We had to add another phlebotomist,” she said, still a little surprised by the overwhelming response.

A Community Answers the Call
The promotion wasn’t flashy. Just a steady stream of Instagram posts, a few Facebook updates and the oldest marketing strategy in the book: talking to neighbors. Taytum and her mom, Lyndsi Drysdale, spread the word, and the community showed up.

“People from down the street I’d never met came and donated,” Taytum said. “They told me their stories.”

One donor, the mother of a classmate who had passed away from cancer, shared how much it meant to her to give blood in her son’s memory. “We connected through that moment,” Taytum said.

It was no longer just a pageant project. It had become something bigger — a shared mission that brought neighbors, friends and strangers together.

Breakfast, Lunch and a Broken Air Conditioner
Every blood drive has its own rhythm, and Taytum’s had a distinctly local flavor. Wingers of Brigham City catered breakfast and lunch for donors, thanks to a connection through Taytum’s aunt.

“My aunt’s best friend owns Wingers,” Taytum explained. “She made a call, and they just jumped in to help.”

But not everything went smoothly. On the day of the drive, the air conditioning in the building wasn’t working. For a blood drive, where temperature control is critical, this was a potential disaster.

“I was honestly panicked,” Taytum admitted. “But they got it fixed just in time.”

The Unexpected Impact
What surprised Taytum most wasn’t the number of donors or the impact of patients’ lives. It was the sense of connection she felt with her community.

“I didn’t think it would mean so much,” she said. “I didn’t think it would connect me to the community the way it did. It really changed how I see what’s possible when people come together.”

The experience also gave her a new kind of confidence. At first, she was nervous to email the Red Cross or talk to strangers about her project. But as the months went on, she grew more comfortable.

“Everyone at the Red Cross was super nice and helpful,” she said. “I got more comfortable. I grew from that.”

Her advice to others? “Trust the people you are working with. People believed in the cause and in me.”

What’s Next for Taytum
The Red Cross has already reached out to see if Taytum will organize another blood drive. She’s also considering becoming a Blood Program Leader, a role she can take on until she’s old enough to donate herself.

Her thank-you list is long: Wingers, Twisted Sugar, Cinemark, Hughes Construction, West Point Junior High, and everyone who donated or helped spread the word.

Taytum doesn’t see herself as a hero — just someone who wanted to do something that mattered.

But in a world where good intentions often go unrealized, her follow-through stands out. Thanks to her, her community and the blood donors, more patients will live to tell their stories.

Not bad for a pageant project.

For those inspired by her example, the opportunity to make a difference is within reach. Donors can easily find a nearby blood drive and schedule an appointment through the Red Cross Blood Donor App, by visiting redcross.org/GiveBlood or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members, and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.