By David Rogers. January 18, 2012. BLOWING ROCK -- Just in time for blood shortage season, The Rotary Club of Blowing Rock cobbled together widespread community support for a blood drive on Tuesday, at Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church, administered by the American Red Cross.

January was declared National Blood Donor Month in 1970, because blood donations tend to slack off during the period.  People have full schedules during the holidays, with the rapid fluctuations in weather people tend to get colds and flu, making potential donors ineligible.

According to the Red Cross, every two seconds, someone in the USA needs blood.  An estimated 44,000 blood donations are needed every day to help victims of accidents and burns, surgical patients and premature infants, among others.

While blood donations in January tend to diminish, demand does not.  That's why The Rotary Club of Blowing Rock's blood drive in the middle of winter, though inconvenient for many donors, is among the most important of the year.

According to Rotary blood drive chair, Joe Kiker, Tuesday's was very successful. "I would venture to say that on a per capita basis, Blowing Rock is one of the most generous blood donating communities," Kiker said. "Here we are in the middle of winter, all the seasonal residents are gone, some folks are still gone from the holidays, school is just starting back, and our collection still pushed close to 40 pints.  And that is with a half dozen people who showed up to give but who, for one reason or another, were declared ineligible, at least for this blood donation event.

"So many folks in this town understand the need and feel such compassion for their friends, neighbors and even strangers who might be in need.  And why not contribute to a culture of donating blood.  Someday in the future it might be today's donor who is on the receiving end.  And what if nobody cared to give?  What if the need went unmet? That is why these events are so needed and the donors so appreciated."

Kiker pointed out that some two dozen Rotarian volunteers helped out with the blood drive, in administering it, including some who were also blood donors. "And then," Kiker said, "there were people like Jan and Don Blair of Blowing Rock Properties who recruited entire offices to donate.  That is commitment and compassion.

Upcoming Blood Drives

• January 20, 2012 -- Hardin Park Elementary School, 2:00 pm to 6:30 pm, 361 Jefferson Rd., Boone
• January 22, 2012 -- First Baptist Church 10:30 am to 3:00 pm, 374 W. King St., Boone
• January 26, 2012 -- Caldwell Community College, 9:30 am to 2:00 pm, CCC campus, Boone
• January 27, 2012 -- Watuaga Industrial Park/Cheap Joe's, 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, 374 Industrial Park Dr., Boone

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