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Celebrate Freedom Week

Celebrate Freedom Week

Jun 24, 2019 | cBlog, Promotions

Give your Neighbor Life and Liberty

While some will be celebrating the July 4 holiday with fireworks and barbecues, local hospital patients in need of blood transfusions won’t have the same freedom.

 

Celebrate Independence Day with TBC
June 30th-July 6 by donating blood at any center or mobile location.

We call it Freedom Week! All donors will receive a Freedom Week t-shirt and 2 movie tickets!

*shirts are while supplies last

Local blood donations are especially important during this critical time of the summer where TBC typically sees a dip in donor turnout. During this week, our donors are usually on vacation, visiting family, or chilling by the pool, and we understand that blood donation may not be at the front of everyone’s mind. But the demand for blood never stops. That’s why our blood donors are essential to saving lives this holiday week. Be the difference for someone in your community!

Click here to find a donation center near you. Take note – on July 4, our centers will be closing at 3 PM. Search by zip code to find a nearby mobile drive from June 30-July 6 by clicking on the button below.

 

Donate Today

Retired U.S. Navy Man Donates 400+ Times

Retired U.S. Navy Man Donates 400+ Times

Jun 21, 2019 | cBlog, Donor Spotlight, Education

A Lifetime of Service 

86-year-old Harvey Spencer has spent his entire life serving his community. His service started when he joined the Navy in the 1950s for the Korean War. During a tumultuous time in U.S. history, Spencer stepped up. And he’s continued to do so. Now retired from the Navy, he’s donated blood more than 400 times, saving lives in a different way.
 
Among the many things that Spencer learned after joining the Navy is the importance of donating blood. Because of the war, there was an urgent need for blood. When asked to give, he did. After traveling the world with the Navy for many years, he retired about 20 years ago, when he began donating blood locally.
 
Noticing that he was a frequent donor, a long-time TBC employee asked Spencer to donate platelets. In true Spencer fashion, he said yes, wanting to do anything to help. A local girl in need of platelets also motivated him to learn more about platelet donation.
 
The rest…is history. Spencer now donates platelets twice a month at the Seneca Donation Center. He says he loves the fellowship and the staff who take good care of him; a true compliment from someone who knows the deep impact of true camaraderie.
 
The vivid images of his fellow military members at war remind Spencer of the importance of donating. He has this simple, Nike-esque quote for anyone who hasn’t donated before.

“Just do it.”

To Spencer, it’s that easy. You too could be a loyal donor like Spencer. Whatever your reason, local hospital patients need your donation. TBC is thankful that Spencer chose TBC to be the place where he continues his community service. With more than 400 donations, he’s saved hundreds of lives. Thank you Harvey Spencer, a hero inside and out!

Sundae for Sunday

Sundae for Sunday

Jun 12, 2019 | cBlog, Promotions

We all scream for ice cream!

TBC is putting a sweet spin on Sundays this Summer (wow, say that 5 times fast) with our Sundae for Sunday promotion! On every Sunday June-August, all blood donors will enjoy a $20 gift card to a local ice cream shop! You’re welcome…

This promotion is only available at our 7 TBC Donation Centers. On Sundays we’re open from 7am to 5pm. Just donate blood (includes plasma and platelets) and you’ve got your ticket to a local sweet treat! 

Participating Ice Cream Shops (not subject to change):

Asheville

Ultimate Ice Cream

Spartanburg

Hub City Scoops

Greenville

Luna Rosa

Seneca

N the Midst Ice Cream

Greenwood

Bruster’s

Easley

Good Karma Ice Cream

Raleigh

Fresh

Donors will receive 2 $10 gift cards to be used at the locations listed above depending on the center locations, while supplies last. All donors must bring a valid photo ID and be 16 years old with parental consent, 17 years old without. Click the button below to make an appointment (recommended but not necessary). To find the nearest center, click here.

Donate Today

Points for Platelets

Points for Platelets

Jun 10, 2019 | cBlog, Education, Promotions

So what’s the deal with platelets?

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 the number of platelets in patients’ blood. A low platelet count is not 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

Now to the good news! You can donate platelets every seven days (max 24 times a year)! So you can be a superhero every week! AND we’re rewarding your selfless act with TBC Rewards Points! Keep in mind, donating platelets takes a little longer than a whole blood donation and can only be done in a center. Through one needle stick and a super fancy machine, your blood is taken 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!

For platelet promotions and bonus point announcements, check our Facebook page.

Donations can only be made at a TBC Center. Please call your local center with any questions or to make an appointment. 

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

 To our loyal platelet donors, THANK YOU! Because of you, people in our community are living better, healthier lives. 

Celebrate World Blood Donor Day with TBC

Celebrate World Blood Donor Day with TBC

Jun 7, 2019 | cBlog, Education, Events, News

Celebrate World Blood Donor Day with TBC

Be part of a world-wide movement of people donating blood on World Blood Donor Day! The Blood Connection (TBC) has donation centers and mobiles all over North or South Carolina to make sure you can take part!

Friday, June 14th is World Blood Donor Day 2019 and this year’s campaign recognizes the need for safe blood for all. TBC is joining organizations in the US and around the world to acknowledge the constant need and to celebrate blood donors who are committed to saving lives.

“We want our blood donors to feel as special they are, for saving lives every day through their generous blood donations,” said TBC President and CEO, Delisa English. “We also hope to inspire more people throughout the community to donate blood regularly, and often.”

Health is a human right; everyone in the world should have access to safe blood transfusions, whenever and wherever they need them. The need for blood products is universal, but access to safe blood and blood products varies greatly across and within countries. It starts with donating local.

 Special events by region: 

– Eastern North Carolina:

June 14th – Raleigh TBC Donation Center – 5925 Glenwood Avenue

Miss North Carolina, Laura Matrazzo, will be visiting the center from 2:30-4:30 p.m. and Miss Garner’s Outstanding Teen, Ashton Britt, will be there from 11a.m.-2 p.m. The community and media are welcome to attend and meet them.

– Upstate South Carolina:

June 14th & 15th – Spartanburg and Greenville Donation Centers

Join WSSL 100, for a country-lovin’ blood drive! They’ll have your favorite country tunes playing when you come donate with TBC. The simple act of donating blood will get you 2 tickets to hang with Locash, Russell Dickerson, Dylan Scott, and Rachel Wammack, and Joe Lasher at the Pickin’ in the Park concert in Spartanburg! We’ll also hook you up with a Country’s in My Blood t-shirt to show off that country pride.

 – Western North Carolina: 

June 27th – WLOS Station – 110 Technology Drive

To round out the month of June, TBC is also teaming up with WLOS ABC13 for the 32nd Annual Operation Blood Drive. Donors can visit six different locations around Asheville to take part in OBD. Donors will also receive a special OBD t-shirt.

Sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO), World Blood Donor Day celebrations bring a precious opportunity to celebrate all blood donors on a local, national and global level as well as to commemorate the birthday anniversary of Karl Landsteiner, a Nobel Prize winner credited for distinguishing the main blood groups in 1900.

Blood transfusions help save millions of lives every year around the world. Here in the Western North Carolina area, they help local patients suffering from life-threatening conditions live longer with a higher quality of life. Blood also has an essential, life-saving role in maternal and perinatal care, as well as people with traumatic injuries and patients undergoing surgical procedures. But an adequate blood supply can only be assured through regular donations by voluntary blood donors.

Blood donors must be 16 years old with parental consent, or 17 years old or older to donate. All donors must have a photo ID.

Click DONATE NOW to find your nearest location! Thank you for saving lives in our community!

Lyman teen and pageant queen shines as blood drive host and donor

Lyman teen and pageant queen shines as blood drive host and donor

May 13, 2019 | cBlog, Donor Spotlight, Education, Host Spotlight, News

Hailey Greer shines on and off the pageant stage 

Miss River City Teen turns passion for blood donation into platform, donates blood for the first time on her 16th birthday

16-year-old Hailey Greer spent her sweet sixteen at the Blood Connection Donation Center in Spartanburg, giving back to her community. It’s not what you might expect from a high-schooler, but it’s no surprise for those who know Hailey. Some know her as the current Miss River City Teen or former Miss Powdersville. With a few pageant wins under her belt, she’s now in the running to become Miss South Carolina Teen, where a lot more people with get to know her and what she stands for. Hailey is using her contagious smile to spread the word about blood donation, making it her personal platform for Miss South Carolina.

Hailey started hosting drives when she was just a freshman at Byrnes High School. Her mother’s touching story is what drives Hailey to tell others about the life-saving power of blood donation. Her mother lost about half of her blood volume after Hailey was born. Since Hailey knows blood donations saved her mother’s life, she wants to help do that for others in her community. And when she started asking questions to her friends and family, she realized a lot of people around her have needed blood too. Doing her own research about blood transfusions fueled the fire, and she began encouraging her friends to donate at school. 

“Just telling them [students] how much their blood can help somebody is normally what does it for them. And by giving blood, they feel like they have a purpose.”

Hailey has hosted almost 10 blood drives (and counting) with The Blood Connection, starting way before she was old enough to donate blood herself. Hailey donated for the first time with TBC at the Spartanburg Center on her birthday on May 19th, surrounded by her friends and family. She’s now in the club of local lifesavers!

Download Invitation

TBC is grateful for Hailey’s selfless dedication to her community and passion to serve as a blood drive host. She is truly an inspiration, juggling her school work, dance team practices, preparation for pageants, and learning how to drive, yet still making time to serve her community. Making connections in the community is what TBC is all about. Hailey is the perfect example of a caring connector, who has not only affected the lives of many local blood recipients but their families too. Soon she’ll be able to add “lifesaver” next to the long list of her titles. TBC wishes Hailey the best of luck at the Miss SC Teen pageant! 

WYFF Channel 4 shared Hailey’s beautiful story as part of its Project CommUNITY series. Check it out!

The Spartanburg Donation Center is located at 270 N Grove Medical Park Dr. It’s open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m on the weekends. Blood donors must be healthy, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be 17 years old or 16 with written parental consent. Photo ID required. To reduce donation time, donors can make an appointment in advance.

Check out the TBC High School Program, which awards students like Hailey who are impacting their communities through blood donation and hosting blood drives.

Donate Blood