The Blood Connection is partnering with the University of South Carolina to give Columbia donors an opportunity to give local. The temporary fixed site is located inside the Center for Health and Well Being, in room 217.
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.
If you’re a Moe’s fan, you’ve probably heard of Mo Monday (the best day of the week, are we right?) Well TBC is making Mo Mondays even better! Donate blood with The Blood Connection and you’ll get your fave Moe’s meal for FREE, 2 weeks in a row. We’re not kidding.
For the entire month of September, TBC and Moe’s Southwest Grill are working together to getting people fired up about blood donation. Partnerships like this are essential to the community’s blood supply. Moe’s enthusiasm to partner with TBC has helped the blood center reach new donors and save more lives! That just goes to show that teamwork really does make the dream work.
The Give Mo’ Get Moe’s promotion runs September 9th – September 30th. Donors who give blood at any TBC center on any Monday in September will receive a $20 Moe’s gift card! To find a center near you, click here.
On September 23rd, 11 Moe’s locations will host a blood mobile for a collective blood drive from 4-8 P.M. Blood donors will receive a $20 Moe’s gift card there too. After donating, walk right into your local Moe’s and enjoy a free dinner, a thank you for spicing up/saving someone’s life!
| 449 East Main Street | Spartanburg, SC |
| 6005 Wade Hampton Blvd, # A | Taylors, SC |
| 500 Haywood Rd | Greenville, SC |
| 3144 N Main St | Anderson, SC |
| 360 Merrimon Ave | Asheville, NC |
| 168 Shenstone Blvd | Garner, NC |
| 10760 Wakefield Commons Dr | Raleigh, NC |
| 1410 E Broad St | Fuquay-Varina, NC |
| Belle Hall: 612-A Long Point Rd | Mt Pleasant, SC |
| 9514 Dorchester Rd #106 | Charleston, SC |
| 214 Azalea Square Blvd | Summerville, SC |
The Moe’s promotion at TBC donation centers will be held on 09/09, 09/16, 09/23, 09/30. Donor gifts are while supplies last. Mobile drives are only on 09/23.
When donors give blood 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.
SpiritFest is making waves in Greenville, SC September 1st at 5PM at the Bon Secours Arena!
The Blood Connection is giving blood donors the chance to sponsor a youth to go to SpiritFest! Change a life and save one, at the same time.
The demand for blood never stops. That’s why our blood donors are essential to saving lives. Be the difference for someone in your community! Sickle cell patients especially rely on blood donations every day from the minority population. It’s important to know about the disease and how you can help. Read this article to learn more.
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 or Donor ID.
There’s never been a better time to stop by your local Outback Steakhouse! And The Blood Connection is giving you an easy way to eat for FREE.
TBC and Outback Steakhouse are working together to spread the word about blood donation. Partnerships like this are essential to the community’s blood supply. Outback Steakhouse’s enthusiasm to partner with TBC to host blood drives has helped TBC reach new donors and save more lives!
On November 8 & 11, 2021, select Outback Steakhouse locations in the Carolinas will host The Blood Connection for a collective blood drive. Blood donors will receive a $20 Outback gift card and free Bloomin’ Onion. After donating, donors can walk right in and enjoy a free dinner at Outback, a ‘thank you’ for saving lives!
Click on the Location Name to make an appointment.
Cary |
901 Walnut St. |
Durham |
3500 Mount Moriah Rd. |
Garner |
845 US Hwy. 70 W. |
Goldsboro |
2617 N Park Dr |
Asheville |
30 Tunnel Rd. |
New Bern |
111 Howell Rd. |
Raleigh |
7500 Creedmoor Rd. |
Smithfield |
911 Outlet Center Dr |
Charlotte |
1412 E Boulevard Suite A |
Matthews |
9623 East Independence Blvd. |
Hickory |
1435 13th Avenue Drive Southeast |
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Florence |
110 Dunbarton Drive |
West Myrtle Beach |
4650 Factory Stores Blvd |
Mt. Pleasant |
715 Johnnie Dobbs Blvd |
North Myrtle Beach |
1721 Highway 17 North |
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GREENVILLE, S.C. – On December 6th, 2000, South Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper Eric Nicholson was shot and killed in Greenville after trying to pull over a robbery suspect. Nicholson was a Marine, husband, and loyal servant to his community. Coincidentally, one of his last acts of kindness was donating blood. He donated about an hour before he was killed with his wife, Misty. Since his death, she has been passionate about spreading the message of blood donation throughout the community. Blood drives in honor of Nicholson started in 2002 and have saved up to 6,000 lives. The Blood Connection is now dedicating its newest mobile donation bus to Nicholson, naming it “Eric.”
Trooper Nicholson’s death was a big shock to the community. This event not only recognizes a community hero, but also shines a light on the risk and sacrifice that local law enforcement officers face every day.
The new mobile, “Eric,” opened to the public after the dedication ceremony on Friday, July 26th. The bus was officially named in the same parking lot where Nicholson was killed almost 20 years ago. Although the sacrifice of a blood donor comes no where near Nicholson’s sacrifice, the sentiment to give back to the community is similar. At the Nicholson blood drive, TBC saw 49 people and collected 45 units of blood. That has the power to save up to 135 lives in the Upstate community! Those donors honored Nicholson and continued his legacy by donating blood.
In 2020, the 20th Annual Nicholson blood drive will be held at the Law Enforcement Center and Cracker Barrel on Friday, December 4th. Blood mobile “Eric” will be at the Cracker Barrel. This is the 20th anniversary of Trooper Eric Nicholson’s death and the 20th Annual Blood Drive in his honor. Sign up to donate by clicking on the name of the drive above.
The demand for blood never stops. That’s why our local blood donors are essential to saving lives. Be the difference for someone in your community, while saying thank you to those who serve and protect.
