Auto Shop to Sponsor Blood Drive

A local automobile repair shop will be asking residents to roll up their sleeves on June 17 and participate in a semi-annual blood drive to benefit the Inova Blood Donor Services.

 is sponsoring the lunchtime event, running from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. They hope residents will stop by to donate at the Inova Bloodmobile, maybe have some work done on their car and enjoy the hot dogs and burgers that G & C owner Greg Caldwell will cook on the shop’s outdoor grills. Donors will also get a chance to put their name into a drawing to win a $25 gas gift card.

The blood drive is a pretty popular community event, usually drawing about 100 or so donors and friends-of-the-shop who come by to visit and catch up on things. The shop generally holds the event twice a year and the last one, on Dec. 10, drew pretty well, said David Harmon, the shop’s general manager.

“The blood drive is Greg’s idea, he’s very community oriented,” Harmon said. “And, like they say, give blood and it will save lives.”

The blood drive isn’t the only community event sponsored by G & C, Harmon said. For the Royal Wedding earlier this year, the shop opened at about 2 a.m. to let customers in and watch the affair on G & C’s four big-screen, high-definition televisions. More than a dozen customers sipped tea and followed the royal nuptials while getting their oil changed.

“We had people that hung out for a couple of hours to watch the royal wedding,” Harmon said, “and that kind of (customer) interaction is what we look for.”

Potential donors can sign up ahead of time on the Inova Blood Donor Services web site (click on “Schedule an Appointment” and use the Sponsor Code 5272), or call Cindy Ayer at 703-263-2474, Ext. 19.

Blood donors have to be in generally good health, at least 16-years-old and have a photo ID. Donors need to stop taking antibiotics at least 24 hours before donating blood and must be symptom-free for at least three days before donating.