Tom Brant donated his first pint of blood on July 18, 1984.
At the time, he was working in agri-business, and the farmers he worked with had a drive to donate blood. At the same time, his church had a blood drive. Being a community-minded person, he donated.
And he kept donating, every eight weeks, for next 45 years. By November 2025, he had donated 200 pints of blood, enough, according to WellSpan Health’s public relations department, to fill two standard-sized bathtubs. (There’s an image. “Two bathtubs of blood” may have been the title of a movie featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000.)
On Friday, Jan. 16, he stopped by the donation center at WellSpan’s Apple Hill medical center to donate his 201st pint.
“It’s quite an accomplishment,” Steve LaCour, the supervisor of the donation lab, said.
Brant is modest about it. “I made a commitment,” the retired director of York County Parks said.
The 73-year-old York Township resident has always been involved in the community. He said he continues to donate blood as a way to serve his hometown. (He also volunteers at WellSpan’s Surgery and Rehabilitation Hospital. And on an unrelated matter, he was responsible for establishing the dog park at John Rudy Park while directing the county park system.)
He is one of just 13 of WellSpan’s more than 3,000 blood donors who has reached the 200-pint mark, LaCour said.
As Brant reclined in the chair in the donation center and the phlebotomist inserted the needle in his right arm, he said, “Nice stick.” He showed the “track marks” on his arm from the years of being stuck, as they put it.
He realized two years ago that he had a chance to reach 200 pints and set that as an intermediate goal. He’s not stopping. “I’m going to continue as long as I can do it,” he said.
Blood donations are in constant demand, LaCour said, particularly at this time of year. Donations drop off during the holidays, and donations in January are critical at maintaining the blood supply.
Brant likes that he is able to help. His generosity with his blood, LaCour said, has saved “hundreds of lives.”
That’s gratifying, but Brant said there is another perk.
“You get a cookie and juice when you’re done,” he said.
To donate
WellSpan Health uses more than 50 units of blood a day to treat patients who have an emergency or are undergoing surgery, being treated for cancer or facing other conditions requiring blood, according to its website. Blood donated at WellSpan stays at York Hospital.
The donor center at Apple Hill accepts walk-in donors, but the health system encourages making appointments to donate.
