Pint by pint, Lowndes County residents are coming together to support the American Red Cross July blood drive and to help reach 874 pints collected by the end of the month. Once reached, this will break the record for most pints collected in the month of July in Lowndes County, set in 2001.

Sunday, citizens of Hahira turned out in strong numbers to donate blood in honor of one of their own, James Miley Jr., who is battling leukemia. More than 100 residents made their way to Miley’s church home, Hahira United Methodist, resulting in 95 usable blood donations, approximately 50 more than the average collected at the annual drive.

This week, blood drives at Cass Burch Automotive and Dillard’s Distribution Center brought the Red Cross 86 pints closer to their goal while citizens continued to donate at the Bemiss Road donation center.

The next drive will take place at Mathis City Auditorium Thursday, July 24, from noon until 7 p.m. This will be a “Remember When” event organized by Leadership Lowndes and will feature area residents who volunteered and donated blood each month when Red Cross workers traveled from Savannah before Lowndes County had its own donor center. The event should be exciting for those who volunteered their time and believed in the need to donate even before the process was quick and convenient.

With only 273 more pints needed, the goal should be met and exceeded before the month is over. Lowndes County is already more than 68 percent of the way there. Let’s not give up. Let’s not forget the real need that exists for blood donations, especially in summer months. And let’s prove that our community can join together to accomplish something that will save so many.

For more information visit www.redcross.org/.

• Valdosta Donor Center

Where: 2517 Bemiss Rd.

Donor Hours

Mon.-Wed., 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Thurs.-Sat., 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Every first and third Sunday, noon - 5 p.m.