Derrick Elliott (left) and Jerry Rider (right) were two of the 104 donors who saved lives during Baldwin EMC’s Spring Into Action drive on March 19. Donations were collected by LifeSouth Community Blood Centers.

Local blood donors saved as many as 312 lives by giving blood during Baldwin EMC’s Spring Into Action drive on March 19. The event collected a record number of 104 pints of blood.

According to LifeSouth Community Blood Centers Regional Manager Jennifer Stuart Rulon, the Spring Into Action drive is a great benefit to patients in local hospitals. “We are thrilled at the number of pints collected at this blood drive. Baldwin EMC put forth an outstanding effort to get donors in the door, and there will be up to 312 lives saved as a result,” Rulon said.

The Spring Into Action drive is an annual event held in Baldwin EMC’s training center at their headquarters office in Summerdale. Each pint of blood donated can save as many as three lives, including accident victims, surgical patients and more. All of the donations taken during the Spring Into Action drive will benefit local hospitals.

Donna Givens, Baldwin EMC’s senior governmental affairs and community relations administrator, said the Spring Into Action drive is part of Baldwin EMC’s efforts to be member focused and community involved. “Every donation that came in during the drive directly benefits the local community,” Givens said. “We’re saving lives right here at home, and that’s something Baldwin EMC is very proud of.” Givens says 100 pints is the most collected at a Baldwin EMC blood drive prior to this year’s Spring Into Action drive.