Thanks a million to all of you who gave your support to the “Jail Cells for Blood Cells” blood drive at WestGate Mall this past Saturday 8/15.  You’ll find pictures in my Facebook photo album.

Piedmont Blood Center spokesperson Andrea Wall tells me 65 usable units of blood were collected, including one from me.

I consider myself blessed greatly to be able to share this gift of life.

Wall called Saturday “a great day.“  She attributes it to community support from donors, the mall, the media and other sponsors.

Each of us has an opportunity this Saturday to save three lives.
That’s the impact each time a person donates blood.
This Saturday 8/15 at the WestGate Mall food court in Spartanburg, the Piedmont Blood Center is hosting “Jail Cells for Blood Cells” from 9 am - 5 pm.

Imagine a “jail and bail” where the emphasis is on collecting blood donations rather than money.  You catch the drift!

The folks at the Piedmont Blood Center in Spartanburg have asked me to remind you how badly your blood donations are needed.

I was there this week to make my first donation of 2009, and workers there tell me the economy is taking a toll on blood donations.

As more businesses close or reduce their workforce, there are fewer places to hold blood drives.  Many of the textile mills and other major businesses that provided lots of blood donors in the past no longer exist.

Now, the blood bank relies more on community blood drives and appeals to the general public.

Green said the Piedmont Blood Center at 175 Dunbar Street needs O type blood, both positive and negative, especially negative.