Local dealership sponsoring community blood drive
By Becky Barclay
Published in News on July 30, 2015 1:46 PM
Blood donors can help others and have fun at the same time during the annual Chevrolet of Goldsboro Drive for Life blood drive.
It will be held Aug. 11 from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Chevrolet dealer on U.S. 70 East.
"Over the last nine years, Chevrolet has partnered with the American Red Cross to host some very successful blood drives," said Miranda Harrison, Red Cross account manager and donor recruiter.
Jennifer Tyndall, marketing manager with Chevrolet, said theirs is the largest single blood drive in Wayne County.
In the past, the dealership has hoped to collect 200 units of blood, but fell short by a few units.
"We have a goal of 200 units this year," Mrs. Tyndall said. "We've always tried to hit that number, so we're hoping we can this year."
Chevrolet gets the word out by letting its customers and the community know about the blood drive.
That day, Ms. Harrison and Mrs. Tyndall will be on hand to help donors through the process at the two Red Cross blood collection buses that will be at the dealership.
"We have a canteen afterward where they can get a drink and some refreshments," Mrs. Tyndall said.
"Every donor receives a goody bag from local vendors right here in town. In the past, we've had coupons for a car wash from Adam's, McDonald's coupons, pens, Aaron's Rent a Center and more.
"And Aaron's is loaning us a TV for donors to watch while they're waiting."
In addition to all of this, there will be hourly giveaways all day long.
"Miranda and I will ask questions of the donors who are there and whoever gets it right gets a door prize," she said. "The questions are either Chevrolet-related or Red Cross-related."
And each donor gets to pick a nonprofit organization that Chevrolet will donate $5 to in their name.
Appointments are being taken for the Drive for Life blood drive, but walk-ins will also be taken that day. Anyone can donate at this drive.
A lot of Chevrolet's employees will be rolling up their sleeves to donate blood that day, as they always do.
"We do it because we want to help the community and Red Cross," Mrs. Tyndall said. "We want to help anybody who needs the blood. We know how important it is. Each unit can save three people, that's pretty amazing.
People need blood every single day. And in the summer, blood is low with more people traveling and more accidents. We like to do something in the summer to make sure there's enough for everybody."
Mrs. Tyndall also said it's fun for the dealership to see some of the same donors come year after year.
"I think there's a lot of people who wait to come to our drive," she said. "It's pretty exciting to see them again, shake their hand and thank them for coming to our drive."
The Red Cross is asking people to support the drive by giving blood that day and inviting friends and relatives to give by posting the information on social media networks.
For more information or to make an appointment, call Chevrolet at 919-751-2200.