Dear editor,

You may have seen news about blood donation recently. A story that often gets lost is the importance of volunteer blood donors.

Every day in Alabama, hundreds of people make the decision to donate blood, motivated purely to help someone in need.

LifeSouth has served Alabama patients for more than 20 years and is the state’s largest provider of blood products. LifeSouth’s blood donors save lives from Muscle Shoals to the Gulf Coast.

Only about 4 percent of citizens donate blood regularly. These quiet and unsung heroes give both their blood and time to help strangers.

But, we simply can’t do it alone. In communities across the state, we partner with schools, businesses, churches and other organizations to host blood drives.

Our partners see it as an opportunity for public service, and it’s our privilege to be a part of this lifesaving process.

On behalf of LifeSouth, thank you to all who give and encourage others to give. Alabama’s patients are counting on all of us.

Nancy Eckert

President and CEO

LifeSouth Community Blood Centers