CHOCOWINITY — When Scarlet Stokes of Chocowinity was a child, she was the recipient of blood made available through donations.

Now, as a volunteer with the American Red Cross, she is encouraging others to give the gift of life.

“I was a recipient, so I’m just paying it forward,” said Stokes, who has volunteered with the Red Cross for about six years. “I donated when I could. On record I’ve donated 18 units, and I started out volunteering with drives at my church, Haw Branch Church of Christ. When I retired, one of the Red Cross volunteers asked me if I’d be interested in volunteering.”

Stokes is also a member of the Chocowinity EMS board, so it is only natural that she involves the town’s EMS and volunteer fire department.

“I kind of encourage them to host drives a few times a year, and I help them out,” she said.

The efforts by Stokes and other volunteers help save lives, according to Chocowinity EMS Capt. Shane Grier.

“We have to keep the blood supply going; it’s vital,” Grier said. “The helicopter from Vidant brings blood into the county all the time. Any major trauma we have and we bring in the helicopter, there is blood in that helicopter.”

Anita Branch was among the volunteer donors who turned out for a recent blood drive held in Chocowinity, one of a series scheduled regularly throughout Beaufort County.

Branch said she has donated blood since she was a 16-year-old high school student. Her efforts on the behalf of others are nothing short of inspirational.

“I’m about to get my 5-gallon pin, so I’m excited about that,” Branch noted. “I started giving blood because my daddy was a real big giver so he got me started. I usually give four times a year and I’m ‘O’ negative, so anybody can take my blood.”