Decatur woman celebrates birthday by asking community to donate blood at her ‘Birthday Donation Party’

DECATUR, Ala (WHNT) — Blood banks rely on donors year-round, and a Decatur woman went above and beyond to ensure that Lifesouth stays stocked this summer.

“So, if you want to donate today in Decatur, you have to come to my party,” Angeleck Williams said.

This is the thirteenth year Williams has celebrated the day with a “birthday donor party,” and everyone is invited.

“My hope is to get as many people through the doors as possible,” Williams said.

What started as a one-time thing, has turned into an annual event.

“I really didn’t think about doing it after that until the next year when some of my friends were coming to me and saying, ‘hey, are you going to do that again,'” Williams said.

After just a few years, it outgrew its original home at Williams’ workplace. Now, you can find the party at the Lifesouth Donor Center in Decatur.

“It just evolved into a big community event, and the community actually expects it now,” Dawn Hayes said.

Hayes is the regional manager for Lifesouth. She and Williams work together to make this special day happen year after year.

“It started out with Angeleck’s 42nd birthday,” she said. “and that year we collected 42 units. and every year since, it has just grown.”

Williams has three goals when it comes to donations:

The first is her age: she wants that number to be the minimum number of givers.

“I’m turning 54 this year, and I’m not afraid to tell people that,” Williams said.

The second: to beat last year’s number.

“Which was 159, so if we get 160 people in the doors today, I will be so ecstatic,” she said.

Lastly, her reach:

“200, and if we make that goal, I don’t even know what don’t would do,” Williams explained.

One woman, using her special day, to rally her community and make a difference.

“It’s nice to know that people want to do this for me,” she said. “but it’s the knowing that it’s for a good cause and that people need it, and it’s there when the need is there.”

Williams encourages the community to donate blood every day, not just today, as it is a year-round need.

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