Fireflies partner with Blood Connection to encourage donations

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The Columbia Fireflies minor league baseball team is partnering with The Blood Connection to encourage blood donations at Segra Park.

The Fireflies have joined the Lifesaver League, a group of minor league teams playing host to blood drives. The Class A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals will play host to three blood drives, beginning Thursday from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m.

Two other drives will take place on June 26 from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. and on Sept. 8 from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. Donors will receive various gifts including game tickets and T-shirts.

“We are proud to partner with The Blood Connection as part of the Lifesaver League to encourage Fireflies fans to help our local community by donating blood at one of the Blood Drives at the ballpark this summer,” Ashlie DeCarlo, Fireflies director of marketing, said in a news release. “There is a critical need for blood donations right now, and just one moment out of your day can help save a life.”

Founded in Greenville in 1962, The Blood Connection serves the Carolinas and Georgia and supplies blood products to Prisma Health Richland, MUSC Columbia and Lexington Medical Center, among more than 40 other locations across the state.

“Our Lifesaver League partnerships are a longstanding tradition within The Blood Connection, and we are excited to enter into this venture with the Columbia Fireflies,” Delisa English, president and CEO of The Blood Connection, said. “We’re looking forward to reaching more potential blood donors across the Midlands by bringing our blood donation opportunities to Fireflies fans and Segra Park. Local hospitals certainly need their donations desperately.”

Potential donors can make an online appointment at thebloodconnection.org/fireflies. Appointments are encouraged but walk-ins are welcome.