It was a cool October morning when second-year student Krystal Yackulak, Young Executive Board Representative of Stevenson’s Red Cross Club, logged onto Zoom from her quiet dorm room. Her posture straight, hands folded neatly in her lap.
Her words flowed effortlessly, as if every detail of the organization was second nature. Her enthusiasm reflected her passion for encouraging a culture of compassion and engagement on Stevenson’s campus.
“At a college level, one of our primary events is blood drives because it’s one of the easiest ones that we can get a lot of engagement for consistently,” Yackulak said. “We host them about once a month, and they’re pretty successful. We’re able to collect around 24 pints of blood each drive. We’re in a National Blood shortage, so they play a very big role.”
Each semester, the Red Cross Club leads a variety of service efforts that align with the national organization’s core areas: blood services, armed forces support, disaster relief, health education and international aid.
Following their most recent blood drive on September 29, the club continues to operate through five committees, each dedicated to a specific area of service. For instance, the club is currently organizing an event with the Armed Forces Committee to show appreciation and support for local veterans and military members within the community.
“Our next primary one to do is cards for veterans, writing a little holiday ‘Happy Veterans Day’ cards to be completed by the end of October,” Yackulak said, “And we do toiletry drives in the spring for people to donate shampoo, conditioner, and easy things like that.”
The club’s humanitarian spirit extends far beyond campus. Its “Vaccinate a Village” campaign supports the Red Cross’s international mission by raising funds for measles and rubella vaccines in developing countries.
“Just one dollar can save a child’s life. Two dollars gives them a booster shot,” Yackulak said. “Last year, the club raised over $500 by reselling donated Crumbl Cookies, turning a simple bake sale into life-saving global aid. We plan to do that more this year, but as more of a spring activity.”
The club is also planning a winter toy drive for children at Walter Reed Hospital, collecting wish-list items for families affected by natural disasters. “That way, they can get a sense of Christmas joy even though they’ve been affected by disasters,” Yackulak said.
The club also hosted a disaster relief fundraiser called Red Cross Rush, a “step-a-thon” that supports victims of hurricanes and earthquakes. The fundraiser ran from October 12 through October 19.
On October 23 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., the club hosted hands-only CPR and first aid certification workshops for students to learn essential life-saving skills. Together, these initiatives reflect the club’s commitment to every part of the Red Cross mission.
For many Stevenson students, especially those in the Service Scholars program, the Red Cross Club offers a meaningful way to fulfill required service hours while contributing to something larger than themselves. By participating in projects like blood drives, veteran outreach, and international aid campaigns, Service Scholars not only serve the community but also embody Stevenson’s mission of purpose-driven learning.
Still, maintaining engagement isn’t always easy. Scheduling for these events presents itself as a challenge since students have varying class times. Meetings are held Thursday evenings, which doesn’t work for everyone. Yet despite the hurdles, the club’s energy continues to grow. Membership has nearly doubled in the past year, from around 60 students to well over 100.
“We’re a college campus—half of us are broke,” Yackulak said. “Our goal is to always try to incorporate activities that we can just ask for their time, passion, and commitment in general.”
In that quiet Zoom room, with Yackulak’s steady voice and composed demeanor, it’s clear that the Red Cross Club isn’t just serving communities, but shaping the next generation of compassionate leaders.
“Without the Red Cross, a lot of our disaster aid and foreign affairs wouldn’t necessarily make any progress,” Yackulak said. “But in terms of Stevenson, it’s very important for Service Scholars, playing a big role in being able to give the others service hours and then giving back to the community.”
