Baldwin EMC right of way employees Alkeen McMillian and Kevin Barnhill were among the first to donate at Baldwin EMC’s 16th annual Power of Giving Drive.

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SUMMERDALE - The 16th annual Power of Giving Drive, hosted by Baldwin EMC, was held on Thursday, Nov. 18. According to the event’s organizers, it was a success.

LifeSouth Community Blood Centers representatives arrived on site early Thursday morning. A total of 51 donations were collected, including three double red donations and three platelet donations, which will help save up to 153 lives in our local community.

The accomplishments of the Power of Giving Drive are some of the most significant ways Baldwin EMC shows its commitment to the community, said Mark Ingram, Baldwin EMC’s vice president of corporate services and public relations. But without donors, he said it would not have been successful.

“Every year, we continue to be amazed by the generosity of our community,” said Ingram. “The individuals who show up, roll up their sleeve, and donate blood to potentially save the lives of three other people, they are true heroes. In fact, it’s hard to think of a more selfless act of service. And the best part is that every single donation of blood stays right here in our local community. We are so grateful to everyone who came out to help their neighbors through this cause.”

Baldwin EMC is a member-owned electric cooperative serving more than 82,000 accounts in Baldwin and Monroe Counties in southwest Alabama, including Alabama’s Gulf Coast. It is an equal opportunity provider and employer.