LIFELINE Blood Services donation van parked at the Boling University Center on Feb. 11, 2026. (Pacer Photo / Darby Self)

In August 1947, Jackson Medical Laboratory and Blood Bank first opened it’s doors on the second floor of 607 Highland Ave., in Jackson, Tenn. This opening occurred at the same time as the founding meeting of the American Association of Blood Banks in Dallas, Texas. The closed system made it possible for the first time to store a blood transfusion in a refrigerator for 21 days.

Four small Jackson hospitals were the Blood Center’s first customers. In 1950, the Food and Drug Administration approved the Blood Center’s application for a federal license. This was to distribute blood and its components in the United States. In the 1960s, the Blood Center purchased its first bloodmobile, a used Trailways bus.

In 1972, the Blood Center was sold to a non-profit organization governed by a volunteer board. The name was changed to West Tennessee Regional Blood Center, Inc. LIFELINE Blood Services is a member of the American Association of Blood Banks, America’s Blood Centers and Blood Centers of America. It is licensed by the Tennessee Department of Public Health.

Today, LIFELINE provides blood services to 21 West Tennessee counties and two regional areas.

Sherrona Taylor has worked with LIFELINE Blood Services for the last year and a half as the Weakley County donor recruiter. As the donor recruiter, Taylor is responsible for going into the community and organizing the blood drives in towns around Weakley County.

“It is saving lives. We are on a mission to save lives. People are needing blood transfusions everyday, the only way to help people that [needs] blood is for donors to donate,” said Taylor on her favorite part of the job.

It is crucial for people to donate blood. According to the American Red Cross, someone in the United States will need blood or platelets every two seconds.

“You never know, one day it may be you that is needing a blood transfusion,” said Taylor.

Students who are interested in donating blood can follow a simple process to donate, explained Taylor.

“What they should do is come down and register. They need an I.D. and will take a mini-physical. Then, they go to the bus and donate. Once they’re finished with their donation, they will relax, eat a snack and drink water and be happy they helped save someone’s life.”

Among several students who chose to donate blood, one was Christopher Craigie, a junior electrical engineering major from Jackson, Tenn.,

“I called and they said there was great need for it, not many people donated in the last two weeks,” Craigie said.

“I [donated] last fall semester. I saw them, they needed blood, I had blood,” Craigie said.

UT Martin students, faculty and staff donated 84 units of blood across the drive, enough to save 252 lives.

The next blood drive at UT Martin will be held on Apr. 20 and 21, 2026. For more information about LIFELINE Blood Services, local drives or how to get involved, students are encouraged to visit lifelinebloodserv.org