The Selma Times-Journal

A priceless gift and selfless act can save many lives. On Wednesday, Selma citizens did their part to give the gift of life.

Curves partnered with the American Red Cross (ARC) on Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. to sponsor a blood drive.

The office was buzzing with people coming in to register and wait for their turn to get on the ARC bus to donate blood.

“This is not for Curves,” Curves Co-owner Leon Shepherd said.

“This is for people in need.”

Indeed it was, but several Curves members did come out to participate in the drive along with other members of the community.

“We had eight people waiting on us when we arrived,” Curves Co-owner Camella Hollaway said.

“Selma has really been good to us.”

Hollaway said she once worked for the Red Cross and knows of the great need for blood donations.

“We always need blood,” Mobile Unit Assistant Nick Long said.

After registering at the front desk inside of the Curves building, the donors waited for their turn to get on the ARC bus where they had a medical history consultation with a phlebotomist –

a person who collects blood. If all was well, they got processed and moved to the front of the bus to have their pressure checked and blood collected.

The bus had two offices in the back, two waiting benches, an area for refreshments and t-shirts and three stations to give blood – a pretty tight space to say the least, but no one seemed to mind.

“They realized the importance of giving blood,” Hollaway said.

Donors seemed to agree with Hollaway’s statement.

“It’s the thing to do,” Curves member and blood donor Marie Middlebrooks said.

“People need it.”

Donors were given the usual cookies and juice but were also given a t-shirt and WJAM DJs Paul and Trey Alexander were standing just outside of the bus door with free Pepsi and pizza.

The final count, Shepherd reported, was 23 pints had been collected, 45 people had come by and 36 people had donated blood.

According to www.bloodcenters.org, one pint of blood can save as many as three lives. Anther interesting fact – and this is not diet advice – a pint of blood weighs a pound, so you lose a pound when you donate.

Anyone interested in being a donor or hosting a drive can call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE, visit www.givebloodredcross.org, www.alacgc.org or call the local American Red Cross office at 874-4641.