CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Chattanooga's Local Blood Assurance is asking for the community's help, as they are critically low on blood donations.
Due to the wintry weather this past weekend, many blood banks were forced to close their doors.
By having to shut down, the organization was not able to replenish its stocks of donations.
Caitlin Stanley, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications, stresses the importance of having the community donate, especially during this time.
"There's no substitute for blood," she explains. "So if the blood isn't there on the shelf, you know we cannot help save patients' lives."
Stanley informs us that Blood Assurance needs to service 500 to 600 donors every single day to meet their demand.
While they have partnerships with several other community centers and help one another out, she stresses that blood is something hospitals use daily.
It's something that quickly runs out, and there's never enough to go around for long periods of time.
We spoke with two donors who come regularly and asked what pushes them to make time to donate a literal "piece" of themselves.
Karen Matthews, an enthusiastic giver, says she tries to put herself in the shoes of the person who needs the donation the most.
"If it was you and there was not enough blood for them to use, then you'd be sorry."
She continues, encouraging others to donate alongside her.
"It's just great. Just keep on keeping on. I wish I could do it every month."
Kaylynn Churches, another regular donor, began donating blood at the blood drive at her school.
After that, she completely fell in love with the idea of helping people.
Churches dives deeper, sharing that her desire to help comes from a personal connection with someone who needs it most.
"One person that's really dear to me is a little girl in my community, and she actually has cancer. So she really just makes me feel like I need to do something to help, and this is the one thing that I can."
Churches address the common fear some have of needles but assure them that donating isn't something to fear.
"It doesn't hurt. Some people might think, 'Oh well, it's a needle in my arm.' It's really not even as bad as getting a flu shot. You don't feel it while it's in there. It's a poke, and then you're done."
Stanley announces that Blood Assurance is giving away long-sleeve T-shirts to all donors who come in for National Blood Donor Month.
She says the shirt reads, "It's a great day to save a life."
She goes on to inform the public that if they are O-negative, they're giving away a $25 digital gift card. If they're AB and give plasma, they'll also receive a $25 gift card.
Stanley invites everyone in.
"You get a mini-physical, and then you sit in our chair. You can be done donating in 10 to 15 minutes, and then you get a snack and a drink. You know that you've saved lives that day."