Help save lives with two on-campus blood drives in May

Shepeard Community Blood Center is coming back to the Augusta University campus for two events in May.

The Shepeard Bloodmobile will be accepting donors in the parking lot near the Ronald McDonald House of Augusta, 1442 Harper St., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 4. The first 10 donors will receive a voucher for a slice of cheesecake courtesy of Taylor-Made Kakes. Walk-ins are welcome, but those interested may schedule an appointment online or call 706-737-4551.

Also, the nurses at Augusta University Health are challenging the AU community during this year’s Nurses Week.

Shepeard Community Blood Center will partner with Nursing Shared Governance to host a blood drive from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, May 10 at the same location. In recognition of Nurses Week and Augusta University Health System Week, they challenge you to help patients in our community.

Donors will have the opportunity to learn about the “Thank the Donor” program and enjoy a free gourmet cookie. Those interested in participating may also answer pre-screening questions virtually.

Photo ID and face coverings are required to participate. Shepeard will also follow CDC recommendations regarding social distancing, and all donors will be screened and temperature checked before donating.

Shepeard supplies the blood and blood products to more than 20 hospitals within the CSRA, including the Augusta University Medical Center and the Children’s Hospital of Georgia. Donating blood during these difficult times is one way to help those living in your community and the impact is real — just one donation can save up to three local lives. AU Health received 16,061 units of blood from Shepeard Blood Center last year, saving approximately 48,183 lives.