By Crystal McGough, Associate Editor
CLAY – LifeSouth Community Blood Centers is partnering with two Alabama mothers to bring a blood drive to Covenant Church International in Clay this Saturday, April 22, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Angela Harris is the mother of Aniah Blanchard, who was murdered in 2019 after being kidnapped by Ibraheem Yazeed, a convicted felon who was out on bond at the time for prior charges of kidnapping and attempted murder. Aniah’s murder led to the creation of Aniah’s Law, a state constitutional amendment that allows judges to deny bail for defendants suspected of violent felonies such as murder, kidnapping and human trafficking, among other things.
Tora Washington is the mother of Destiny Washington, who was murdered on the University of Alabama at Birmingham campus by former UAB football player Carlos Londarrius Stephens, to whom Washington had just sold a pair of AirPods.
The girls’ mothers met and became fast friends when Harris showed up to speak at Destiny’s UAB candlelight vigil.
Two years later, Harris took a job as school nurse at Tarrant High School, where Tora Washington also worked, and the two became even more close.
“It was just meant to be, for Tora and I working literally just a couple of doors down from each other,” Harris said. “We just became really, really close. Every day, we support each other.”
In December 2022, LifeSouth District Community Development Coordinator Paige Howard visited Tarrant High School to see if the school would be interested in doing a blood drive. It was there she met Harris.
“I did not realize who she was,” Howard said. “Then she teared up a little bit … and the minute she said Aniah’s name, it all registered who she was.”
From there, Harris reached out to Washington and the three women began to plan a blood drive to be held in honor of both of the girls, who lost their lives way too soon.
“We were talking about doing something in honor of Destiny and Aniah, just to give back because they were givers; they loved helping people,” Washington said. “I really wanted to do the blood drive because I know that would be something that Destiny would love to do; to help others. By giving blood, you’ll be able to help in many areas. Also, I know there’s a blood shortage in the hospitals. Destiny worked at St. Vincent’s East as a Patient Care Technician and she talked about that constantly, about needing more blood. She wanted to go help at a blood bank before she was taken away from us.”
Destiny graduated from Clay Chalkville High School in 2018, and was in the honor society at CCHS, as well as at Lawson State Community College where she was attending nursing school.
Aniah also graduated from Homewood High School in 2018, where she was captain of the softball team. At the time of her murder, she was a sophomore at Southern Union State Community College and planned to transfer to Auburn University.
“It’s just something amazing and so special that we can do this blood drive in honor of our daughters together,” Harris said.
Both mothers have also set up scholarship funds in their daughters’ names. Aniah’s is through the Homewood City Schools Foundation and Destiny’s is through Covenant Church International. Information on how to contribute to their scholarship funds will be available at the blood drive Saturday.
Anyone who comes out to donate blood at “2 Moms 4 Life” will also receive a free breakfast and/or hotdog lunch, as well as snacks, drinks, and a custom-made T-shirt designed by Harris and Washington.
The LifeSouth mascot, a drop of blood informally named “Drip,” will also be present to give out candy to any children who come with their parents.
“We’re real excited about the drive at LifeSouth,” Paige Howard said. “We’re constantly in a shortage in Alabama for blood. Every two seconds, someone needs a blood donation. Currently, we’re at a two-to-three-day supply of blood; we want to be at a five day supply. If we’re below five, doctors are having to cancel important surgeries. So anybody who comes out and donates, not only will it really mean a lot to the moms to honor the two girls and their memory, but it’s also saving lives. With every one donation, three lives are saved.”
Donors can also pre-signup at www.lifesouth.org.