The Red Cross Club elected their future President at the beginning of the school year, Katie McCole ‘26. McCole has been an active member of the club for three years now and continues to participate in all activities hosted by the club.
The Red Cross Club it is about coming together as a community to donate blood and save lives. As a three-time donor, McCole understands the importance and pivotal success that the Red Cross needs when holding blood drives. “The purpose of the club isn’t just donation, but it is to save lives, and the universal mission of Red Cross is Red Cross saves lives, and she gets it. She’s behind it, and she does it,” said teacher and head advisor of the Red Cross Club at Hollis Brookline High School, Linda Illingworth.
Next year when McCole takes over, she plans on also introducing a “cans and coats” program, which will essentially raise more supplies and resources for those who don’t have it, “introducing a more focused plan of action for our usual cans and coats. We’re gonna focus mostly on cans and different foods,” said McCole.
The club hosts a “Cards for Heroes” event every year where members of the club—and anyone in the school who wants to show their support—eat food, watch holiday movies and write holiday cards for the people currently serving in the military.
The Red Cross has gained a multitude of people over the years. The club hopes to continue that streak. “I think that everyone should join the Red Cross Club. There really is a place for everyone. Everyone’s ideas are always welcome and anyone can add their thoughts and opinions. It’s like one big happy friend group, and I just think it’s a really great safe community that we’ve built,” said McCole.
In addition to electing McCole as next year’s President, Red Cross members also chose Caroline Crawford ‘26 as their future Vice President. “I’m just really excited to continue on what the previous officers were doing, while also incorporating new and fun things into the Club,” said Crawford. Crawford is excited to work with McCole as they continue on the Red Cross Club’s legacy.
Illingworth adds her final thoughts on the Red Cross Club as she said: “What we do is real. We get stuff done. Saving lives is real.”
![Students in Archaeology use tools in a mock excavation. As a class that focuses on hands-on learning, students are able to gain crucial life skills. “[The class] is more hands-on than I thought, and I'm learning way more with physical activities than I do in the classroom,” said student Tess Brown ‘25.](https://cavchronline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_8390-e1733078359165-1111x1200.jpg)
