For Elaine Robertson, the monthly “A Servant’s Heart - American Red Cross Blood Drive” is an outpouring of love for her community—a way to inspire gratitude in those around her while also working to provide lifesaving blood to those most in need. Since 2016, Robertson has acted as a liaison, host, advocate, and organizer for the Red Cross Blood Drive in Pageland and Cheraw, South Carolina, ensuring that her community members have a consistent location to donate blood.

Collecting over 300 units of blood each year, the blood drive in Pageland is highly successful, particularly so as there is only one volunteer running everything - Elaine Robertson. Though she prefers to stay in the background, she ensures her non-profit, A Servant’s Heart, headlines the blood drive. Her immense passion for helping others and cultivating the next generation of volunteers with a servant’s heart has made this blood drive successful.

At each blood drive, Robertson likes to make sure she has one or two younger community members join her to learn more about how a blood drive works, what it takes for one person to act as a sponsor and instill in them a sense of action.

“I do like getting the youth involved. I like to bring these kids in and get them involved; first, I want them to donate blood, then I want them to come and be part of this, to be part of saving lives,” Robertson shared with pride. “I’ve had several of the young ladies, they are in college now, go out and host their own blood drives.”

In the same spirit, Robertson has cultivated a loyal donor base within her community by promoting a sense of gratitude and service at each of her drives. From making personal phone calls to sending a quick reminder text, her main goal is to engage with each of the donors throughout the month to confirm they can still make their donation appointment and reschedule them if they’re unable to make it.

“I try to reach out to every single donor before the drive. I want to see their face, and if I don’t see them, I want to know why. It’s like family; it’s a huge family reunion,” said Robertson on her love for her community.

When asked how she is able to manage a blood drive as an individual, she stated that “I supply the building and the donors, and the Red Cross provides the rest; they’re just amazing!”

Acting as a liaison between the community and the Red Cross, her primary role is ensuring there is a fixed location for the blood drive and that there are donors signed up for each drive. She often goes a step further, wanting to express her thanks to the Red Cross employees for all their hard work.

“I always cook or purchase a meal for the Red Cross workers. Their favorite meal is my collards. I think I’m known for my collards. I consider all of those workers my friends; I look forward to seeing them,” acknowledged Robertson. These small touches show just how passionate she is about helping provide lifesaving blood to her community. A passion that she hopes inspires others to begin serving in their own way. As it only takes one person to create lasting change within their community.

Driven to continually inspire those around her to more, Robertson’s latest (and ambitious!) goal is to collect 100 pints of blood every two months.

“We can duplicate almost everything in the world, but we cannot duplicate blood. Each time you go and give one pint, you are touching three lives; you can save three different people. For me, it is so rewarding,” said Robertson on what a successful blood drive means to her personally and why she is so adamant about reaching her goal. “I love it! It makes me happy, well it makes my heart happy; I know that each pint of blood has the potential to touch three lives.”

The incredible success of A Servant’s Heart Blood Drives in Pageland, and Cheraw highlights just how powerful one person’s act of service can be. By taking the initiative and becoming a sponsor for a Red Cross Blood Drive, Elaine Robertson has helped save countless lives through the lifesaving power of blood.

She hopes to encourage young people to do the same. As Robertson so poignantly stated, “If we don’t touch our youth now, we won’t have any blood donors 20 years from now. We have to instill it in our youth now.”

The essence of Robertson’s mission is to give selflessly of her time, passion, resources, and heart to make the world a better place, one pint of blood at a time. Join Elaine in her mission, learn more about becoming a blood drive sponsor here.