“We’re hoping to make this a twice-a-year thing,” Stockton said.
Stockton said they were looking for about 30 donations, and hoped for O negative blood, since that is a universal blood type. While the Red Cross typically has a roughly 24-hour supply, it would be better to have a three-day supply, Stockton added.
Because of the recent ice storm, Stockton estimated that potentially 750 donations were lost because at least 17 blood drives had to be cancelled, and hoped to pick up some of the slack with the blood drive at the hospital. Shortly after lunch, the blood drive had hit about half of its goal for the day, Stockton said.
By about 3 p.m., the Red Cross bus had received at least 30 donations, said Pat Anthony, who volunteered to help with the efforts.
