(Augusta, GA) Shepeard Community Blood Center recently held two ribbon cutting ceremonies in the Lexington/Columbia area in preparation for a proposed new satellite location in Lexington, SC.

The first ribbon cutting was held with the Cayce-West Columbia Chamber on Thursday, January 23, where several community members and officials joining the event to eat lunch with the Shepeard staff and donate blood. The second ribbon cutting was held on January 28 with the Greater Irmo Chamber of Commerce, and also included lunch with community members and a blood drive. Both ribbon cuttings were successful, and helped introduce Shepeard into new areas for expansion.

According to Shepeard’s CEO, Dr. Kevin Belanger, expectations and excitement are high for this new collection center.

“Shepeard is a proven organization consistently providing donors with a quality collection experience,” he said. “Our vision is to partner with the community and hospitals providing a seamless transition of blood from donor to patient.”

Shepeard is the local blood provider for 20 hospitals and more than 30 counties in Georgia and South Carolina, but this is the first time they have placed a donation site this far into South Carolina.

The new satellite location is scheduled to open this year, preferably before summer, and will be in downtown Lexington, South Carolina.