Hartsville High School Teacher Madge Zemp Makes an Impact With Her Passion for Blood Drives.

By, Acacia Cameron RN

Link to article HERE

Madge Zemp is a Hartsville High School teacher who possesses a passion for American Red Cross Blood Donation Drives. “I can talk to you all day long about how passionate I am about this.” She says. “Hartsville High School is just different. We have a heartbeat up here.” Ms. Zemp has worked as a teacher in the district for many years and states that the local blood drives have been going on for over 30 years. When asked how she started getting involved in the first place she states, “I’m a caregiver and a doer. It’s my nature… I (personally) know people who have needed help from the American Red Cross.” Ms. Zemp also mentions that members of her own family have needed blood transfusions. She states, “If not me, then who?”

Ms. Zemp is humble when it comes to acknowledging the notable increase in success of the blood drives at Hartsville High School since she has taken over. “It’s really our students… ​​I love children to be involved.” She encourages the students to be ambassadors for the blood drive in any way they are able. Ms. Zemp highlights the importance of giving back and loves that supporters don’t have to have any special background to be helpful. Because of the notable success, last year the American Red Cross donated $3000 in scholarship money to be divided among three students. These donations have happened for many years. Hartsville High School recently placed in the top 10 high schools nationally for their involvement in the Sickle Cell Initiative. As a result, for the 2024-25 school year the ARC has pledged $8000 in scholarship money in recognition of the student’s success in the program.

The Red Cross launched its national Sickle Cell Initiative in 2021 with the goal of increasing blood donations in Black communities, as 1 in 3 African American blood donors are a match for those living with sickle cell disease. The Red Cross set out to provide free sickle cell trait screenings and expanded screening to include donors who self-identify as multiracial in 2023. Since its launch more than 138,000 sickle cell trait screenings to donors –­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ many who were unaware of their trait status

Ms. Zemp knows that not everyone is able to donate blood for one reason or another. She is keenly aware that the simple idea of donating blood can be scary and intimidating to most people. “I almost pass out every time!” She candidly tells her students and friends. Because of this, Ms. Zemp presents other avenues of service to her students and fellow community members such as: hosting blood drives, recruiting, being boots on the ground, and spreading awareness of the critical need for blood donation.

If there is one, paramount sentiment that Madge Zemp lives by, it’s this: “Just think if the person you love the most needs a unit of blood. Do you want that to be your people? Do you want that unit of blood to be available? I do.” Because of her success at Hartsville High School, Ms. Zemp has been invited to help other high schools approach the blood drives with the same fervor. Hartsville High school averages about 125 units per drive. With at least four drives per year, that is an admirable contribution. She says, “It makes your heart feel good.”

The American Red Cross collects, processes and distributes about 40% of the nation’s blood supply. The ARC needs about 12,500 units of blood and 3,000 units of platelets to supply 2,500 hospitals nationwide. With someone in need of blood every 2 seconds, we need to help spread awareness just like Ms. Zemp. Download the award-winning Red Cross Blood Donor App. It is easy and convenient for donors to schedule and manage their donation appointments, track the lifetime impact of their donations and recruit others to donate.