Teenagers are often criticized for being selfish and for not caring about others. Thankfully that criticism is not true for all teenagers, especially an Appalachian High School senior.
Every spring First United Methodist Church in Rainbow City holds a blood drive in honor of Bailey Phillips, a senior at Gadsden City High School.
This year, one of the donors was Patrick McIntosh, a senior at Appalachian High School in Oneonta. At sixteen, Patrick asked his mom to sign a permission slip for him to give blood. He then discovered a program that rewards students who donate blood three times during their senior year. If a student donates three times, he or she receives a red cord to wear at their graduation ceremony.
On May 13, Patrick gave blood for the third time. “I first started giving so I could earn the cord, but then I realized that I was being rewarded just for helping others,” said Patrick.
After graduation, Patrick plans to join the U.S. Air Force.