Local community members rallied together to save lives during Baldwin EMC's emergency blood drive on Feb. 1, with as many as 315 lives potentially saved through their contributions. The decision to host the emergency blood drive stemmed from the critical shortage of blood supplies faced by LifeSouth Community Blood Center, which directly impacts local hospitals and patients in need.

The event, held at the cooperative's headquarters, saw an outpouring of support as the staff from LifeSouth collected a total of 105 pints of blood. Each pint donated has the potential to benefit up to three people, highlighting the significance of the community's generosity.

Jennifer Rulon, LifeSouth Regional Manager I, expressed gratitude towards Baldwin EMC for facilitating the emergency blood drive.

“I just want to thank Baldwin EMC so much for allowing us to have the emergency blood drive on Thursday,” Rulon said. “Thanks to Baldwin EMC and our awesome community, we were able to collect a total of 105 donations! That’s amazing!”

Mark Ingram, Baldwin EMC's Vice President of Corporate Services and Public Relations, commended the community's response.

“Our community never ceases to amaze us,” Ingram said. “If we tell them a need and ask for help, they always deliver and always go above and beyond our expectations.”

Typically, the cooperative hosts two blood drives annually, one in the spring and another in the fall. However, the response to this emergency drive surpassed expectations, with an overwhelming number of donors turning out.

“It was just a steady flow of people throughout the entire day coming to donate, and we even had a number of first-time donors come out to give,” Ingram said. “Thank you so much to the men and women who took time out of their day to donate and ultimately save lives!”

To stay informed about future events hosted by Baldwin EMC, community members are encouraged to follow the cooperative on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram or visit their website at www.baldwinemc.com.