By HEATHER RUPPE
Dozens of people participated in a recent blood drive, which helped to supply the greater Lowcountry community with blood and also provide money for a local homeless shelter.
The Colleton County Sheriff’s Office sponsored the blood drive, which was held last week. In all, 13 units of blood were collected from this event.
So far this year, the sheriff’s office has collected a total of 130 pints of blood during 2021.
The event last week also supported In His Name, a Colleton County-based non-profit organization that supports the homeless in the county.
“As we head into the holidays, we expect to see low donor turnout which will put an uncomfortable strain on our supply. As the primary provider for Lowcountry hospitals, we cannot afford to let this happen,” said Mercy Myers, partnerships and media coordinator with The Blood Connection, a group that collects blood and then helps to keep it local, throughout the Palmetto State.
The entire state has been in a critical blood shortage for the last two years. “Our supply is holding steady for now, but that can change any second,” she said.
According to Myers, The Blood Connection will be setting up their 2022 blood-drive calendar “soon,” which will include more events in Colleton County.
