LifeSouth, Nutwood Winery and local church team up for blood drive

Published 5:37 pm Tuesday, April 28, 2020

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This Saturday, Nutwood Winery and ThreeLife will host multiple LifeSouth blood trucks to try and reach their goal of 100 units of blood.

“LifeSouth provides all of the blood for our local hospital, as well as the hospitals in the surrounding area,” ThreeLife Church administrator Jamie Rhye said. “The donations will be used to impact our own community. The blood supply is low, so this is a way we can come together as a community and make a difference for those who are fighting for their health.”

According to LifeSouth District Community Development Coordinator Melinda Hinds, each donation can save up to three lives.

“We want to encourage people blood is needed on a daily basis,” Hinds said. “Our hospitals depend on having an adequate supply of blood. We want everyone to know that even with everything going on right now, it is still safe to give blood.”

Hinds said that giving blood is also a great way to give back to the community.  

“We recently had a blood drive in January and were able to collect 64 units of blood,” Rhye said. “When we first planned this, our original idea was to have someone give a unit of blood per person that was diagnosed with COVID-19. Now that number is passed 140, so we settled on the goal of 100 units because that is a more feasible goal.”

Rhye said he is confident they will reach their goal.

The blood drive will begin at 9 a.m. and until 3:30 p.m. at the winery, located at 1339 Upper Big Spring Road in LaGrange. Hinds said each donor should expect to be there at most 45 minutes.

“This is a wonderful community service as far as the church, winery and the people volunteering to do this,” Hinds said. “It’s saving lives and that is what it’s all about. The weather is supposed to be great, and it looks like it will be a really great event.”

Registration and blood donation areas will be spread out to follow social distancing guidelines.

“I think it’s insanely important for our community to come together and give blood because there are people lying in hospitals fighting for their health that need this,” Rhye said. “We have in us what they need to continue their fight. I know if I were sick, I would want someone to donate to help me. I am going to donate every time I can to help someone else continue their fight.”

Rhye added that he hopes this also brings a glimmer of hope to those in the community who need it.

“It’s a ray of sunshine to those who are sick and their families to know that somebody cared enough to give blood to help them continue fighting to get healthy,” Rhye said.