The Annual Fall Blood Drive sponsored by the Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital Auxiliary will have a different location this year. The event will be held at the Trinity Episcopal Church Parish Hall at 401 Main Street, as well as in the BWWMH Classroom on Tuesday, October 9 from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

“Because of scheduling difficulties, we have had to change the location of this year’s drive for the first time in years, but we are so pleased that the church offered us their space so generously,” said Rebecca Culpepper, Auxiliary president. “In recent years we have begun offering the blood drive downtown and at Bryan Whitfield at the same time so that more and more people could have the opportunity donate. Also, because the hospital’s employees can’t easily leave the hospital to donate, we thought having it at two locations would be our best bet. We want to make it as easy as possible for people to donate blood.”

All blood types are needed, especially type O negative and O positive. Of all hospital patients who will need blood, 50 percent will use type O. To donate blood, you must be 17 or older, weigh at least 110 pounds, have not donated in the past 8 weeks, and are not currently taking antibiotics. Also, United Blood Services requires donors to show identification containing a legal name and one of the following: date of birth, social security number, United Blood Services assigned donor number or photo of the donor. Some types of identification are: driver’s license, UBS donor card, social security card, security badge (picture and donor’s name) and passport.

According to United Blood Services, which serves Marengo, Greene, Hale, Clark, Tuscaloosa, Fayette, Sumter and Pickens counties in West Alabama, along with other facilities in East Mississippi, someone needs blood every three seconds. These patients may be accident victims, undergoing surgery, or patients receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer and other diseases. The blood donation process is safe, quick and easy and could help to save a life. All who are eligible are encouraged to give the gift of life on Thursday. For more information or to schedule an appointment to donate, call Chrissy Brooker at 287-2626.