My First Blood Donation of 2009

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.

I’ve been a blood donor since 1973 when my roommate at N.C. State University, a gung-ho ROTC student, told me I was going with him to donate (he didn’t ask… he told me).

I’ve always heard each blood donation saves three lives.

It took less than 45 minutes out of my day.

Can you imagine 45 minutes better spent?

Plus I got a can of cold juice, and they offered me cookies.

The Piedmont Blood Center provides blood products to the hospitals in Spartanburg, Cherokee and Union Counties.

I urge you to roll up your sleeve and support the blood bank in your community.