Junior League Of Tuscaloosa To Host Community Blood Drive In Northport

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The Junior League of Tuscaloosa will mark Find the Good Day on Sept. 18 by hosting a community blood drive in partnership with the American Red Cross and the City of Northport.

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The drive will take place from noon to 4 p.m. at the Northport Civic Center inside City Hall.

Find the Good Day is an initiative of the Association of Junior Leagues International that unites more than 290 leagues worldwide in acts of kindness and service.

This year, Tuscaloosa organizers chose blood donation, citing a critical need across Alabama and the nation.

The Red Cross says that every two seconds someone in the United States needs blood, but only 3% of eligible Americans donate each year. In Alabama, hospitals have reported supplies dropping below a two-day reserve, delaying patient care.

“Find the Good Day is about turning compassion into action,” Junior League of Tuscaloosa President Danielle Kimbrough Spikes said in a statement. “Blood donation is one of the most immediate, impactful ways our community can save lives. By rolling up your sleeve, you are finding the good for someone in need right here in West Alabama.”

The event also aligns with Sickle Cell Awareness Month — a disease that affects an estimated 100,000 Americans and about 5,000 Alabamians, many of whom require regular blood transfusions.

Jori Smith, a Junior League member who was diagnosed with sickle cell disease as a child, said the cause is personal. Smith is now the co-founder of the Sick of It Foundation and said her first transfusion at age 13 was life-saving.

“The blood transfusion was the key element to turning my prognosis around for the better,” Smith said. “I could almost instantly feel the improvement afterward.”

Community members can register online to donate or walk in the day of the event.

Donors are encouraged to share their experiences on social media with the hashtags #FindTheGoodDay and #JLTuscaloosa.

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