OPINION: Thumbs down to those who choose not to donate blood

Thumbs down to all those who have the ability and means to donate blood, but fail to do so. According to the American Red Cross, the current blood supply has dropped throughout the Southeast. Donors of all blood types are welcome, but there is a particular need for type O negative, B negative and A negative blood donors. In the summer, blood shortages often occur because individual donations decrease, along with the number of organizations that are able to sponsor blood drives. The absence of high school and college blood drives also contributes to this annual drop in donations because these drives account for about 20 percent of all donations. There is no substitute for blood; the only source is from volunteer donors. And every two seconds someone in this country needs blood, but the need for blood continues to grow each year far faster than the number of those who donate blood. Only 38 percent of the population is eligible to donate; only a fraction of those eligible actually do so. In the South Carolina Blood Services Region, the Red Cross must collect 500 units of blood each weekday to meet the needs of hospital patients. Eligible blood donors must be at least 17 years of age, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in general good health. Donors with type O (positive and negative), B negative and A negative blood should consider an automated red cell donation, a process in which only red cells are donated. For details or to schedule an appointment to donate, call (800) GIVE-LIFE (448-3543) or visit redcrossblood.org.

Thumbs up to the Grainger Foundation for its recent $20,000 donation to Florence-Darlington Technical College’s Educational Foundation. “Grainger has a strong commitment to technical education across the country and we are proud to support Florence-Darlington Technical College and its goal to build a skilled local work force,” Florence store manager Justin Storey said. Grainger’s gift will fund three $3,000 scholarships and one $2,000 scholarship for students pursuing technical education. Second semester welding students will have access to six $1,500 summer scholarships. Grainger is known as a leading distributor of industrial supplies, with seven branch locations across the state, including a store in Florence. For details about the Grainger scholarships, call Florence-Darlington Tech’s Education Foundation at (843) 661-8002.

Thumbs up to I Am B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L. Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to building self-esteem and leadership skills in girls and women of all ages, for being named a recipient of the “Tenth Man” Community Service Award. The award is given by the Atlanta Braves affiliate team, the Gwinnett Braves. The “Tenth Man” award is given to community members who have gone above and beyond their responsibilities as citizens. I Am B.E.A.U.TI.F.U.L. has worked with students in various schools and school programs including Darlington County Work force Investment, North Vista Elementary School and Wilson High School. The organization was founded five years ago by Dr. Zenobia Edwards of Florence and her sister, Tina Woodard of Georgia.