Community
The Greenville.com community calendar contains local events going on in and around Greenville, SC. See when the next local event is scheduled.
Not Enough O Negative Blood Available to Sustain Local Hospitals, Program to Help Victims of Uvalde Shooting Also Announced
The Blood Connection’s O negative blood supply has now reached a critical level. Because The Blood Connection (TBC) is the primary blood provider for hospitals in this region, the need for O negative blood donations is dire. The combination of already low supply, the approaching summer season, and sustained low donor turnout could result in an O negative blood shortage soon, which could disrupt patient care.
Last week, TBC was activated through the Blood Emergency Readiness Corps (BERC), to send O negative blood to South Texas after the devastating school shooting. The need for O negative blood has since been highlighted by that tragedy but has unfortunately not resulted in an increase in O negative donations. Adding to the issue, the summer months are usually the hardest season to collect enough, exacerbated by an increase in travel and traumas. It is estimated that summer travel will increase by 16% and 75% of Americans are expected to take a summer vacation, indicating this travel season is set to be the busiest since the pandemic – a sign that people are returning to normal. As that happens, the fear is that patients like Kristen Odom will continue to be overlooked.
“During my labor, unbeknownst to anyone…I was bleeding internally but no one knew it and it was not discovered until immediately after our daughter was born,” says Odom. “I will never forget one anesthesiologist yelling over the team, referring to blood, ‘I don’t care where you get it, but I need it, and I need it now.’ After I came out of ICU, my husband and I realized how much blood I needed, and the fact that donated blood was the key factor that turned everything around.”
O negative blood is the most transfused blood type for traumas and emergencies, so the demand never wavers. O negative blood donors are often referred to as the “universal donor” since everyone, no matter their blood type, can receive O negative blood. TBC aims to have a 5-7 day supply of O negative blood but has recently had a one day supply. In some instances, one trauma case alone can use up that supply.
TBC has also announced a program that uses blood donations to help victims of the Uvalde shooting. TBC blood donors now have the option to convert their reward points into a monetary donation to the Robb School Memorial Fund (One Star Foundation) through the TBC online store. These funds will be used locally to support the families and community affected in Uvalde, Texas.
Blood donors of all types are urgently needed through the summer. Community members are urged to roll up their sleeves and donate blood. One donation can help up to three people. ‘Freedom Week’ at TBC was formed many years ago to anticipate and prepare for the decrease of blood donors in the summer months. This year, Freedom Week is June 26 through July 10. TBC will be thanking blood donors who give from June 26th – July 10th with a commemorative t-shirt and an eGift card valued at $20. The blood donation is priceless.
Downtown Spartanburg’s longtime music series returns to Morgan Square starting in April. Music on Main happens every Thursday from 5:30-8:30 PM through July.
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Thinking about your next national park experience? These free downloadable national park Owner’s Guides are filled with travel tips and helpful information. It’s your one-stop resource to discover all your national parks!
The Virtual Railfan cameras were installed on Tuesday, July 6th at the Hub City Railroad Museum. There is one camera looking north and one looking south. The Hub City RR Museum wants to thank the City of Spartanburg for allowing us to install the cameras, and to Virtual Railfan for the install. We have already seen over 300 railfans at one time watching the video feed.
Links to live feeds:
[North Camera feed]
[South Camera feed]
Blood donors of all types are urgently needed through the summer. Community members are urged to roll up their sleeves and donate blood. One donation can help up to three people. ‘Freedom Week’ at TBC was formed many years ago to anticipate and prepare for the decrease of blood donors in the summer months. This year, Freedom Week is June 26 through July 10. TBC will be thanking blood donors who give from June 26th – July 10th with a commemorative t-shirt and an eGift card valued at $20. The blood donation is priceless.
GCCA is proud to host the first annual Greenville County School’s Winners Show. The winning students from GCS elementary, middle, and high schools represent the best of the best from over 90 schools throughout the district!
The first Friday of every month from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
First Fridays invites you to navigate Greenville’s visual arts scene each month as galleries and venues are open to the public from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. There are a number of resources on this page to help you plan your route. First, you can sign up for our eblast list to receive gallery highlights in your inbox each month before the event. Second, you can visit our maps to find the main areas where the galleries are located. Lastly, our gallery directory contains contact information and directions through Google Maps to each location.
COVID-19
Be sure to check our monthly eblast (subscribe below or click the link at the top of the page) to see which galleries are open each month. Some galleries may participate virtually. Please be considerate and wear a mask + practice social distancing when visiting the galleries.
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The Masterworks Festival presents a student potpourri recital on Friday, July 1 at 2:00PM in Daniel Recital Hall. This event is free and open to the public.
Make Greenville Center for Creative Arts (GCCA) your first stop on First Friday! Located in the historic Brandon Mill complex in the creative arts district of West Greenville, GCCA is a perfect place to begin the Metropolitan Arts Council’s monthly art walk.
The Art Center is open for extended hours, 6pm to 9pm, on the first Friday of every month for First Friday activities. In addition to viewing multiple exhibitions from both locally and nationally-recognized artists, at GCCA you’ll have the opportunity to meet the resident working artists, see their studio spaces and works in progress, and learn more about their personal style and artistic process.
The mission of GCCA is to enrich the cultural fabric of the community through visual arts promotion, education, and inspiration. Founded by a dedicated group of artists, teachers, and community leaders, the Art Center offers programs for people of all ages, backgrounds, and economic circumstances.
Greenville’s Downtown Trolley (Route 903) provides visitors to the downtown area easy and free transport to the West Greenville area from July through September, every Thursday and Friday, 6pm to 11pm, and Saturdays, 5:30pm to 11pm. For real-time scheduling, download the FindGreenlink app on your phone and come visit!
Thinking about your next national park experience? These free downloadable national park Owner’s Guides are filled with travel tips and helpful information. It’s your one-stop resource to discover all your national parks!
The Virtual Railfan cameras were installed on Tuesday, July 6th at the Hub City Railroad Museum. There is one camera looking north and one looking south. The Hub City RR Museum wants to thank the City of Spartanburg for allowing us to install the cameras, and to Virtual Railfan for the install. We have already seen over 300 railfans at one time watching the video feed.
Links to live feeds:
[North Camera feed]
[South Camera feed]
Blood donors of all types are urgently needed through the summer. Community members are urged to roll up their sleeves and donate blood. One donation can help up to three people. ‘Freedom Week’ at TBC was formed many years ago to anticipate and prepare for the decrease of blood donors in the summer months. This year, Freedom Week is June 26 through July 10. TBC will be thanking blood donors who give from June 26th – July 10th with a commemorative t-shirt and an eGift card valued at $20. The blood donation is priceless.
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