BOYKINS—Since suffering extensive burns in an April 7 explosion, Jeremy Everett has needed 40 units of blood.

To help the 33-year-old Courtland man and two additional survivors injured in the explosion on a Greensville County logging site, a community blood drive will be held 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 23, at Boykins Volunteer Fire Department. Donors are asked to sign up by calling 641-8899.

The blood drive will be held in honor of Everett, Lon Bickham, 31, of Hunterdale, and Trent Kimbrell, 36, of Chester. It also will be held in memory of a fourth victim, Gary Pierce, 32, of Emporia, a father of five who died six days after the explosion.

The men worked for Pinecrest Timber in Waverly and were doing maintenance on a wood chipper when the explosion occurred a few miles off Hell’s Island Road near the North Carolina border. All were flown to VCU Medical Center in Richmond.

Kimbrell went home after 35 days in the hospital, while Everett and Bickman remain hospitalized, said Michael Everett, who is Jeremy Everett’s father.

Both suffered extensive burns and have had multiple surgeries with more to come.

“I’d say it looks good for a complete recovery,” Michael Everett said about his son. “We still have a ways to go. He’s going to have to go through extensive rehabilitation, but I think his prognosis is good.”

Speaking for Bickman’s parents, Carolyn and Ed Bickham of Chuckatuck, Michael Everett said the 31-year-old is also expected to recover.

“I think he has a prognosis for a good outcome,” he said.

Bickman is single and lives in Scottswood.

Jeremy Everett and his wife, Susan, are the parents of a 4- and 2-year-old and live in Darden Mill Estates.

Kimbrell suffered second- and third-degree burns over 60 percent of his body. He is a father of three.

Michael Everett has nothing but good to say about the burn center at VCU.

“They have really taken excellent care of our guys and given them a good chance,” he said.