Melvin Mills remembers the first time he donated blood. He doesn’t recall the exact age, but he does remember his mother telling him it was time to start donating blood. And so, he did.

“I used to give blood when I was younger, but, you know, then you grow up and get married and work, and before you know, you forget about it,” Mills said.

But last year, an unexpected crisis changed everything. His relative had just given birth, and the family was celebrating the new addition. The joy was overwhelming until, just 20 minutes later, everything took a turn. A medical emergency left his relative in desperate need of a blood transfusion.

“We were all so happy, and then suddenly, we were blindsided,” Mills recalled.

Watching his family go through that terrifying ordeal left a lasting impression. It wasn’t just about the immediate fear. It was the realization of how vital blood donations are. 

That moment spurred Mills to act. He found an American Red Cross blood drive nearby and made an appointment. Now, he’s on a mission to spread the word about the importance of donating. He’s also resumed donating blood more regularly.

“We don’t realize how many people really need it,” Mills said. “We don’t hear about all the daily car accidents. People are bleeding, surgeries that need to be done, and then something happens. And I never even knew the need for babies, that babies sometimes need transfusions.”

Indeed, every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood and or platelets.

His experience has made him an advocate for donation, and he shares his story with those around him.

“I’ve told a few people, ‘You never know when your family’s going to need it, your own family member.’ That was the big one with me,” he said.

For Mills, it all comes down to one simple truth: “I just know that it needs to be done.”

By Sydney Henry, regional communications manager