Blood drive held; donors give in honor of Mrs. Emma Spinks
A number of people responded to the American Red Cross (ARC) Community Blood Drive, held in honor of Mrs. Emma Spinks, on Tuesday, Sept. 8 in the Nathan Dean Center, 604 Goodyear St.
Doris Scott, blood drive coordinator, said she was pleased with the response and family, friends and others who came to give “in honor of Emma”.
Mrs. Spinks was present to greet those who stopped by to chat with her and acknowledge her work in the community. She has served as a volunteer Gray Lady at Rockmart- Aragon Hospital, Heyman Hospice, and provided car service for seniors and shut-ins. She has taken part in activities at the Rockmart Senior Center and participated in events at her church.
Wife of Clifford Spinks, she is the mother of four daughters, one son, 13 grandchildren and three great grandchildren. She is known throughout the community as someone who had great compassion and care for people of all ages.
Meagan Smith, a regular donor, said she came to give not only in honor of Mrs. Spinks but to help other people. “I first gave the ‘gift of life’ when I was a high school student,” she said.
ARC notes that more than 41,000 blood donations are needed every day, and a total of 30 million blood components are transfused each year in the U.S. Donated blood helps people you know who may be involved in an accident or have an illness.
Sickle cell disease affects more than 70,000 people in the U.S. About 1,000 babies are born with the disease each year. Sickle cell patients can require frequent blood transfusions throughout their lives.
More than 1.6 million people were diagnosed with cancer last year. Many of them will need blood, sometimes daily, during their chemotherapy treatment.
A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 pints of blood.
Donors of all blood types – especially types O negative, A negative and B negative – and platelet donors are needed.
People who volunteered to give during the recent drive were:
Gregory Maxwell, Tye Tomlin, Lenda Akins, Hannan Parker, Milan McMillian, Ginger Parker, Cindy Ivy, Theresa Johnson, Amanda Benefield, Linda Dalziet, Heather Williams, Faye Lankford, Dora Dryden, Shelia York, Ethan Mullen, Ivey Mullen and Hayden Arp, Carmelita Brown, Martha McDurmon, Peggy Watts, Irma Shonkivler,
Other donors included: Billie Brown, Lewis Gound, Cathy Holtzclaw, Robert Abernathy, Jerry McDurmon, Deborah McClure, Paul Belher, James McClure, Jason Gable, Carole Jelfro, Kayla Smith, Meagan Smith, Hanna Janwala, Jeff Morgan, Tina Morgan, Joyce Harris, Shane Elrod, Mackenzie Barber, Danielle Barber and Jeromy Walters.
Volunteers assisting at the drive were Doris Scott, Faye Borders, Darlene Smith and Peggy Watts.
The American Red Cross also encourages eligible donors to help their communities prepare for emergencies by giving blood during September, which is National Preparedness Month.
ARC officials announce that a sufficient blood supply is central to ensuring hospitals are prepared to meet patient needs in times of disaster, including the very personal ones that can happen any day. Because blood takes about 48 hours to be tested, processed and made available for patients, it’s the blood already on the shelves that can help save the day when emergencies occur.