Blood drive May 29 at TBC
From Staff Reports

One aspect of blood drive coordination that is as important as the life-saving mission of the American Red Cross is the closely knit relationships that develop between those engaged in saving lives through blood donation.

Few blood drive coordinators have been more engaged in this mission than Mr. Joe Bill Jeffrey, who recently retired as blood drive coordinator for the Thomasville Community Blood drive, which runs several times each year.

However, as change comes to the American Red Cross with the transition of Clarke County account manager Rhonda Dodge to a new territory in Florida, Mr. Jeffrey has agreed to come out of retirement to send Dodge out in style with the coming Thomasville Community Blood Drive, scheduled for Tuesday, May 29 from 1 p.m. - 7 p.m. at Thomasville Baptist Church.

The American Red Cross is charged with providing blood and blood products to over 100 hospitals in the Alabama and Central Gulf Coast Region, and while it may be difficult to find the time to donate amidst the flurry of springtime activity, patients in the region's hospi- tals are in desperate need of live-giving blood.

"Spring in Alabama is traditionally one of the busiest times of the year for most people," said Evan Duffy, Senior Communications Specialist for the American Red Cross. "With all of the chores, tasks and outdoor fun on the agenda, sometimes blood donation gets lost in the shuffle.

Drives such as this one give donors a chance to quickly and conveniently give the gift of life. It only takes an hour, and that hour can translate into a lifetime of hours for a hospital patient in need of blood. This one is special to us because it highlights the contributions of both Mr. Joe Bill and Rhonda Dodge to our life-saving mission in southwest Alabama."

Blood, moreover blood donors, can save up to two lives per donation. The statistics are staggering. Every two seconds, someone in our region needs blood to survive. Some 700 donations are needed per day in our region alone just to meet the current need for blood, creating a constantly critical need for donors who roll up their sleeves to save the lives of their neighbors.

The victim of a traffic accident could need between four and 100 units of blood. The average heart bypass patient needs four to six units. The need for blood is constant, because trauma and emergency medical procedures never take a vacation.

To donate, you must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health. Donors must also show identification in the form of a driver's license or ARC donor card. If you are sick and cannot donate, please encourage a friend or loved one to donate in your place.

If everyone who could donate would donate, there would never be a blood shortage in our area.

The American Red Cross will give a little back to the donors who give so much of their own time, blood and resources during this time of the year. All donors who give in the month of May will receive a t-shirt and ball cap. All presenting donors will also be entered into a regional drawing for a "Donate and Do Disney" package, which includes four roundtrip tickets on Delta Air Lines, four tickets to Disney World, a three-night weekend stay at the Clarion and dinner for four at Planet Hollywood.

Help give Mr. Jeffrey and Rhonda Dodge a warm sendoff by donating blood at the coming drive.

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