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The Life-Saving Partnership with NewSpring Church

The Life-Saving Partnership with NewSpring Church

Apr 24, 2020 | All News and Views, cBlog

NewSpring Church Blood Drive Info

 

To show your support during this season of unknowns, make an appointment by following the links above. Your donation could give someone another day. *We strongly recommend that all donors make an appointment to adequately practice social distancing

 

Sammy Lewis and His 200th Donation

Sammy Lewis and His 200th Donation

Mar 23, 2020 | cBlog, Donor Spotlight

Sammy Lewis and His 200th Donation

Meet Sammy Lewis! He has been donating blood with The Blood Connection when TBC first opened in 1962! Sammy said that he was donating one day on Grove Rd. in Greenville, SC when he saw people watching TV and was told they were donating platelets. This is what first sparked his interest in platelet donation! Sammy say, ” I remember the good old days when there was a needle in both arms.”

In 2009, he and his wife started to regularly donate blood as a family. This decision led to March 9th when Sammy hit his 200th donation with The Blood Connection! 

We are so blessed to have donors like Sammy and his wife who sacrifice their time and stand up for their community. 

Santa’s Community Blood Center

Santa’s Community Blood Center

Dec 16, 2019 | cBlog, Promotions
Donate Blood

Join Us on the Nice List. Donate Blood.

During a month that’s filled with so much gift giving, The Blood Connection wants to thank our loyal donors by giving them a fun, festive, holiday shirt that makes it obvious that they’re lifesavers. It’s Santa approved!

Through December 24, all donors at our centers will receive a special “Ugly Christmas Sweater” t-shirt in addition to their choice of a $20 Amazon or $20 VISA card. The shirts are while supplies last, so hurry in before they’re gone!

To our donors, thank you. Thank you. Thank you!

QUICK FACTS
-One donation can save up to 3 lives
-Someone needs blood every 2 seconds.
-1 in 7 people entering a hospital will need blood.

If you’ve donated whole blood before, you know this is worth your time! Feel free to enjoy your favorite TV shows and snacks on us! Donations can be made at a TBC Center. Please call your local center or 864-751-1168 with any questions or to make an appointment. Appointments are recommended but not required.

MORE INFO: Click here for a little more explanation about what donation type is best for your blood type.

Centers are open M-F 7a-7p and on the weekends 7-5pm. Blood donors must be healthy, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be 17 years old or 16 with written parental consent. Donors must bring a valid photo ID. Platelet donations can only be done after at least one whole blood donation.

Click the button above to find a donation center near you.

Greenwood, home of loyal donors

Greenwood, home of loyal donors

Dec 4, 2019 | cBlog, Education

Greenwood donors celebrate milestones 

A few Greenwood donors have gone above and beyond in their blood donation journeys to save hundreds of local lives! These donors are great examples of loyal, local lifesavers. From everyone at TBC, thank you for your continuous blood donations!

Let’s start with Jeanette Templeton (pictured below) who has donated 38 gallons. Her journey began on a personal note, when her best friend’s husband needed blood transfusions years ago. After she started donating, she realized it’s simply the right thing to do for her community. She loves donating at the Greenwood Center because she has made friends with the staff over the years. Templeton was born and raised in Abbeville, SC and went to high school and college there as well. She has two children and five grandchildren and likes to stay active and involved with her family. 

Craig Ticknor (pictured below) has been donating since the 60s. Like Jeanette, he says he knew back then that it was the right thing to do. When we asked him why he donates with TBC, he said: “Blood is a critical part of our lives it’s what keeps people alive.”
 
TBC would also like to thank Wildred Vaudreuil and Vickie Seagle, who have both donated 42 gallons so far. We couldn’t do our life-saving work without you!

Veteran’s donation mission inspires TBC

Veteran’s donation mission inspires TBC

Nov 7, 2019 | cBlog, Events

TBC Helps Veteran Donate Blood in Every State 

Steve Harrell is a true example of what commitment looks like. As a U.S. Army Veteran, he knows a thing or two about dedication and service. And now he’s on a mission to donate blood in every state. On the surface you may think, ok…that’s doable. That’s just donating 50 times right? But the whole thing will take about 7 years! Not your typical road trip… But nonetheless, Harrell hopped into his trusty RV and took off on a journey riding all over the nation, saving local lives along the way.

“You might be walking down the street one day and that person right there…you may have saved his or her life,” said Harrell.

Harrell clearly has a servant’s heart. Now retired, he says he’s driven by his passion to give back to the communities that make up the great nation he served in the Army. And on one of the most patriotic days of the year, Veteran’s Day, Harrell landed in Arden, NC to donate blood at the TBC donation center there. His goal to only give to community blood centers is what led him to TBC.

“If you want to be a hero…you can do that right here at home,” Harrell told TBC. “People that give blood are heroes too, they’re saving lives every time they donate.”

With the help of TBC, Harrell checked the 10th state off his list: North Carolina. He donated again in January with TBC in South Carolina to check the box for state #11, as one of the first donors to give at the new North Charleston Donation Center. The Jacksonville, Florida native spends his time between donations getting to know veterans in the community, since he can only give blood every 56 days. 

TBC is honored to be a part of Harrell’s mission. Because of that inspiration, TBC vowed to give $10 for each center donor who gave on Veterans Day to the Wounded Warrior Program, an organization that works with local companies to hire veterans. Thanks to donors who gave on 11/11 like Harrell, TBC plans to donate $3,380 to the organization! 

To those who have served, thank you. To our blood donors, thank you. To Steve Harrell, thank you for including TBC in your mission. Our communities are better because of all of you!

Each blood donation has the power to save up to three lives. Together as a community, help show these local heroes and their families that we support them too.

When donors give local with The Blood Connection, it stays local. TBC is the primary blood provider for local hospitals, which means when anyone there needs blood, TBC supplies it. While trauma is the most obvious reason for blood usage, cancer patients are usually the number one recipients of blood products. Donations are also needed for burn victims, premature infants, surgeries, and those with blood disorders, to name a few. When community members share blood, healing happens, and families remain whole. 

Blood donors must be healthy, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be 17 years old or 16 with written parental consent. Our centers are open Monday-Friday 7am-7pm and Saturday-Sunday 7am-5pm. Click here to make an appointment or to call a specific center.

Donate Today

Give Thanks, Give Blood

Give Thanks, Give Blood

Nov 4, 2019 | cBlog, Promotions

Blood donors, someone is thankful for you

Blood donors share life. And for that, thousands of people in our community are thankful that blood donors give so generously. During a month that’s already filled with reminders of gratitude, The Blood Connection wants to thank our loyal platelet donors with a t-shirt they can wear loud and proud.  

For the entire month of November, platelet donors will receive a special “thankful” t-shirt in addition to the regular gift card.

We hope the shirt reminds platelet donors to be thankful for their ability to donate, while also letting the community know that a blood recipient is thankful for them. In a world filled with so much chaos, stopping to be thankful can do a lot of good. To our donors, thank you. Thank you. Thank you!

So let’s talk about platelets. What are they? Platelets are small fragments in our blood that help stop bleeding. Platelets may be tiny, but they’re POWERFUL. They’re little life-savers for the many brave people who are battling cancer. Chances are, someone you know came to mind. Cancer treatments can reduce patients’ platelet counts, which isn’t a good thing. That’s where our loyal donors come in! Thanks to platelet donations, patients are able to get back the platelets their bodies need to get better. While platelets are primarily used to help cancer patients, others benefit from them too, like people with rare blood diseases or transplant patients.

QUICK FACTS
-Small cell fragments in the blood that help stop or prevent bleeding
-Made in our bone marrow
-Shelf life is only 5 days
-Used most commonly for surgeries, transplants, and cancer treatments

If you’ve donated whole blood before, donating platelets is similar but it takes a little longer. The process can only be done in a center. Through one needle stick and a fancy machine, your blood is drawn and the platelets are filtered out. The rest of your blood components are then given back to you through the same needle. It takes about an hour and a half. Feel free to enjoy your favorite TV shows and snacks on us! Donations can only be made at a TBC Center. Please call your local center or 864-751-1168 with any questions or to make an appointment. Appointments are recommended.

MORE INFO: Click here for a little more explanation about what donation type is best for your blood type.

Centers are open M-F 7a-7p and on the weekends 7-5pm. Blood donors must be healthy, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be 17 years old or 16 with written parental consent. Donors must bring a valid photo ID. Platelet donations can only be done after at least one whole blood donation.

Click the button below to find a donation center near you.

Donate Today