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"Saving lives is in our blood," claims the (RIBC), and they’re not kidding. The RIBC collects over 400,000 donations a year from Rhode Islanders to help cancer patients, surgery patients and victims of accidents, burns and other traumas. Each donated pint can save up to three lives, but it has a short lifespan, so blood must be collected continuously from donors. To do this, the RIBC relies on dedicated volunteers and staff — including the help of Junaisha Johnson ’24.

Junaisha’s RIBC Experience

Junaisha, a Business Administration major on JWU’s Providence Campus, was seeking a work-study job from among a long list she’d been emailed by campus staff.

"I chose the RIBC because the job description stated the position was for an administrative assistant," she said. "Since I am going for a business administration degree, I thought it would be a good fit for me."

In her work-study job, Junaisha would help out with RIBC mailings, prepare posters directing people where to go and fold and box the T-shirts the RIBC uses for promotions.

In addition, the RIBC often collects food donations at their donor centers, and Junaisha would help transfer goods from RIBC to the Rhode Island Food Bank in Cranston.

So what's a skill that she learned in her courses at JWU that she has applied to working at RIBC? Definitely organizational skills, she says. "I have the ability to manage my time and physical workspace."

Probably her favorite thing about working at the RIBC has been the staff. "Everyone is so appreciative that I volunteered to work there and help out with things," she says. "They let me know every time they see me."

_{AN INSTAGRAM POST FROM THE RI BLOOD CENTER THANKING JUNAISHA AND FELLOW WILDCAT LOU-ANNE CALIXTE}

Junaisha’s Journey to JWU

"What brought me to JWU was my mom," Junaisha says. "She is a JWU alum and she would talk about how much she liked it, so I always wanted to come here since I was younger."

How is Junaisha liking Johnson & Wales?

"So far, I have liked my experience here. Everyone here is nice, and I actually feel like I am learning in all my classes."

After graduating from JWU, she hopes to either start her own business or work in marketing. "My experience at the RIBC helped me realize that I want to do more than just office-related work," she says.

Junaisha does have one secret: she hasn’t donated blood before. "But after working there, I might start donating!" she tells us.

How Wildcats Can Help

If you’re like Junaisha and hope to help save a life someday, keep an eye on jwuLink for announcements, as the RIBC holds several blood drives at JWU each year.

_{LEFT: A POSTER FROM A FEBRUARY 2023 JWU BLOOD DRIVE. RIGHT: THE RIBC'S PROVIDENCE DONOR CENTER.}

Alternately, you can anytime to donate at one of the RIBC's seven donor centers.

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