Every year as part of the illustrious Omega Psi Phi Fraternity’s Internationally Mandated Programs the Eta Nu Nu chapter in Columbus, Ohio, puts on a blood drive in partnership with the American Red Cross located at 995 E. Broad Street. Saturday, June 6, 2026, was no exception. From 9:00 am to 2:00 pm residents checked in at the second-floor welcome desk after which they were directed to a nearby station and prepped before being instructed to recline on an examination table whereupon a small area of one’s arm was cleaned and a sterile needle inserted.
Although the event was open to the public the men of Eta Nu Nu were easily identifiable by the purple and gold paraphernalia each of them wore for the occasion. By late morning the weather threatened to take an ominous turn as dark clouds formed the sky and strong winds tossed debris as high as the second-floor windows. Within minutes pellets of rain were slamming against the windows giving this writer cause for concern especially because the weather report I checked before leaving the house did not indicate inclement weather until the early evening. Fortunately, this development seemed to have no adverse impact on the turnout.
Named in honor of Dr. Charles R. Drew, known as the Father of the Blood Bank, Drew is one of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity’s most esteemed members. As students of Drew’s life story, the men of Eta Nu Nu recognize the importance of donating blood. Drew was responsible for designing “the first large-scale method for processing, storing and transporting blood plasma.” The impact of his work proved instrumental during World War II resulting in saving countless lives. In 1941, Drew became the first director of the American Red Cross Blood Bank. By 1942 he resigned his position as a way of protesting the military’s discriminatory policy of segregating blood by race, a policy that remained in place until 1950 the year of Drew’s death at the young age of forty-five.
The Dr. Charles R. Drew Blood Drive is in many respects a continuation of Drew’s work. It is one of the few life-saving acts that many people can do that is neither invasive nor life threatening. Blood donations provide healthcare facilities, namely hospitals with a much-needed resource to perform intricate surgeries, treat severe and traumatic injuries and address many chronic illnesses effectively. The men of Eta Nu Nu understand that because blood can neither be manufactured or synthetically reproduced in a lab, willing donors are the most reliable source for those in need. In America, “every two seconds someone needs blood.” As long as there is a need the men of Eta Nu Nu will answer the call.
Judson L. Jeffries, PhD, MPH, is Professor of African American and African Studies at The Ohio State University.
