Chemung County Legislator Rodney J. Strange held the first of two annual Red Cross blood drives on Thursday, July 12th at the Southport Fire Department.
The inaugural blood drive had 26 people donate blood, far more than past blood drives at the same location several years ago. The number far exceeded the donors the Red Cross expected to donate.
Based on past numbers at the fire hall, the Red Cross only had three staff members on hand for the blood drive. More than 25 people chose not to donate or were turned away because of long waiting periods and others were sent to another blood drive in the area who had no one at the location seeking to donate.
Strange has a Thanksgiving Blood Drive already scheduled for Tuesday, November 20th. The Red Cross will beef up it’s staff to accommodate what is expected to be another record turnout.
Strange offered a gift card for a free order of Elbow Room chicken wings to each presenting donor. That will be a regular free offering at each blood drive Strange hosts each July and November.