To become a Galloneer blood donor requires dedication, and the crowd that gathered at Camp Kulaqua on Sunday proved that LifeSouth Community Blood Centers has lots of dedicated donors in North Florida.

Nearly 1,500 of these special donors attended the picnic at the camp near High Springs. To hit the gallon mark requires donating a minimum of eight times with LifeSouth. But in the group were several donors who passed the 20 and 30 gallon levels, and LifeSouth currently has one donor, Perry McGriff, Jr., who is nearing the 55 gallon level.

"There is no telling how many lives these people have saved over the years," said LifeSouth's North Florida District Director J.D. Pettyjohn. "With the size of the medical community in Gainesville, it takes lots of blood donors to meet the needs, and many of these people show up like clockwork to donate. We know their faces, and we've built friendships with them over the years."

Anyone 17, or 16 with parental permission, weighing a minimum of 110 pounds and in good health can donate. Donors who give whole blood may give every 56 days, while those who donate platelets through apheresis may donate every 28 days.

The picnic offered these special donors and their family members a chance to meet and greet, enjoy the camp's water park and feast on a picnic prepared by the LifeSouth staff members. Several of the donors also stepped up and took advantage of the two bloodmobiles that were parked next to the gate.

"We see this picnic as a fun way to offer our thanks for all these donors do for our community," Pettyjohn said.