The employees of Star Communications are willing to go the extra mile to support the community. Many of those employees go so far, they graciously donate blood to help the Sampson Regional Blood Bank thrive.

Each year, Star hosts three to four blood drives, attempting to schedule at least one drive each quarter. The local business has been hosting the drives for more than 15 years.

“Star employees feel it is important to participate in the Blood Bank’s drives because Star Communications is in the service industry, providing telephone, internet, television and security services to Clinton and surrounding rural communities,” Melissa Bass, human resource specialist for Star Communications said. “Being a local provider of these services, it only seems natural to support our local hospital by providing the needed blood donations, which saves lives within the communities we live as neighbors and serve as a business.”

According to Bass, last Thursday Star held its second blood drive of the year, bringing in more than 35 employees to donate. Approximately 90 percent of those who signed up to donate were able to give. In all, 29 units of blood were collected for the blood bank’s supply.

Giving back to the community, Bass added, is very important to the employees of Star. That’s what drives each of them to be willing to give their time each year to make a donation or two.

“We do the drives simply to give back to our community,” Bass said. “We have had several of our own employees, or employee’s family members experience illnesses such as cancer or be involved in accidents where blood transfusions have been needed. We have seen first hand the impact being a regular donor plays in the role of our family, friends and neighbors.”

In line with the company’s slogan, “Neighbors Serving Neighbors,” Bass said it sums up how Star feels about supporting the community and the local blood bank.

Some of the Star employees have something unique to offer the blood bank — a rare blood type.

“We have a few employees who have a couple of the rare blood types, so the ladies with the blood bank say they really like to come to Star Communications, as these rare types can be high in demand with low availability,” Bass added.

The blood drives are organized by the human resource department at Star Communication, in coordination with the Sampson Regional Blood Bank. Last week’s blood drive was not only open to Star employees, but the spouses and dependents of those employees. This was done, Bass said, to boost donations.

“The blood bank usually sees an increase in usage during the summer months and they are especially lacking in the rarer types of blood,” Bass said.

Thursday drive will also assist NC811, who is working to collect 811 gallons of blood to meet the needs of saving lives in 2016. The 29 units collected from the Star drive will be counted towards that goal.

“The blood drive proved again to be very successful,” Bass said.

Blood drives are not the only way Star believes in giving back to the community. According to Bass, the company also supports the local school systems with scholarships and donations and has a team that participates in Relay for Life each year.

Star Communications employee Johnny Eason donated blood during one of the company’s annual drives as a way to give back to the community.
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_Blood-Drive-IMG_6706.jpgStar Communications employee Johnny Eason donated blood during one of the company’s annual drives as a way to give back to the community.

Before Brenda Scott was able to donate blood, an employee of the blood bank took her vital signs, a step all donors must take before donating.
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_Blod-Drive-IMG_6705.jpgBefore Brenda Scott was able to donate blood, an employee of the blood bank took her vital signs, a step all donors must take before donating.
Star employees donate to blood bank

By Kristy D. Carter

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