ATC Development, which owns and operates various apartment communities throughout the CSRA, recently hosted a blood drive for a non-profit donation center, according to Faith Meador.
Meador, the company’s marketing coordinator, said they held the drive last Thursday and collected 15-20 donations in five hours.
“We are partnering with The Blood Connection to host more blood drives at our other properties this year as well and our average community houses 200-300 people,” she said.
The Blood Connection, which opened its Augusta center located at 3156 Perimeter Parkway last year, supplies blood to patients at Doctors Hospital. The organization’s Corporate Partnerships Coordinator, Mercy Myers spoke at yesterday’s Third Thursday Business Builder event hosted by the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce.
Myers discussed the need for blood donations and how businesses can help support the cause by hosting blood drives.
“We need blood drive hosts in our community,” she said.
Myers previously worked in TV news and covered various blood drives.
“I didn’t realize how critical it was,” she said.
Hospitals use blood for a variety of purposes, including routine surgeries, cancer patients, and accident victims. Myers said one donation can save the lives of up to three people in the Augusta area.
She has heard many explanations from people about why they don’t donate blood, including a lack of time, fear of needles, and simply being too old.
“People in the hospital don’t necessarily have time either,” Myers said.
All first-time donors complete a health questionnaire, which is required by the Food and Drug Administration, prior to giving blood. The questionnaire asks for a variety of information, such as health conditions and medication. She said the entire blood donation process lasts no more than 45 minutes.
There are many myths about who’s eligible to donate. For example, many people believe you can’t donate blood if you have tattoos, but Myers said if they were done by certified tattoo artists, that won’t exclude them from being donors.
“We’re doing a big college push,” she said. “We’ve partnered with dozens of businesses in the Augusta area, but we’re always looking for more.”
Besides ATC Development, The Blood Connection has also partnered with various other organizations, including the Augusta GreenJackets, the Family Y, and Beasley Media Group.
For more information or to find out how your business can help, visit thebloodconnection.org/augusta-center/.
