Middle Georgians Donate in Memorial Day Blood Drive

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — All walks of life came out to donate blood for the American Red Cross’ Memorial Blood Drive. As a proud sponsor, 41NBC hit all four locations to talk to the people who helped make it a success!

She normally shakes it for the Falcons, but Monday the “bird lady” was in front of AmStar 16 in Macon decked out in nurse gear shaking her tail feathers for blood donors!

“It’s in you, it regenerates itself and it doesn’t cost you a penny to come out, five ten minutes of your time and help save a life,” said Carolyn “Bird Lady” Freeman.

It was the motto of the day at mobile donation centers at AmStar and Bass Pro Shop and Milledgeville’s Kinetix and Centreville’s Galleria Mall. 

19-year-old Drew King will tell you he partly donated for the free sweet treats but he’s got an even better reason for giving back.

“I have a healthy heart. I have O positive blood type, so I don’t know, I feel like it’d be pretty selfish not to give back,” said King.

Willie McIntyre is the definition of a selfless donor.

“I started back in 1963, during the Vietnam Era,” said McIntyre.

50 years later McIntyre’s still going strong. He can fill a pint bag in 6 minutes!

Just one pint saves three lives. All it took was an hour for blood donors all over middle Georgia to help change a person’s fate.

For more on how you can donate to the Red Cross click here.