Local 237 members and staff as well as residents from the neighborhood stopped by the union hall to donate a pint of their precious blood for a worthy cause during a union-sponsored blood drive on April 4.

Although there was a constant flow of people walking in to donate their blood, several people left disappointed after being told they would not be allowed to donate that day for various reasons.

"A few people were turned away because they had a cold or cough or taking certain prescribed medication," Business Agent Janie Elliott explained. "A lot of people also discovered during the routine blood test that they couldn't donate because they are anemic."

Business Agent Noreen Hollingworth, who worked feverishly to coax and usher potential donors into the union's Maggie Feinstein Room -- which had been outfitted to look like a hospital lab -- said she was a little disappointed with the turnout. "We're going to give our members another chance to do the right thing and give someone a gift of life," said Hollingsworth, who co-chaired the event with Eliott. The two business agents plan to sponsor another blood drive at the end of the summer or early in the fall.

"We're telling members to mark their calendars," Elliott added. "This time we're going to schedule the event in the morning so members can take advantage of a city employee perk that allows workers who give blood in the morning to take the rest of the day off. This should do it for those members who need an added incentive to participate."

Hollingsworth noted that some people are fearful of donating blood, while others are not fully aware of the importance and value of giving blood. "We take it for granted that there will always be blood available when we need it," she said. "It's hard to image that someone who badly needs a blood transfusion could die because the blood supply is dry, but it can happen if there are not enough donors contributing to the blood supply system. The WTC tragedy should serve as a constant reminder."

According to the NYC Blood Center, nine out of 10 of us will need blood sometime in our lives. And one out of every 10 hospital patients requires a transfusion. Although the average transfusion is three pints, some patients require more. Blood is in constant demand for treatment of accident cases, cancer patients, hemophiliacs, and for use during surgery. The need for blood is ongoing.

Blood collected during a drive event is immediately packaged, refrigerated and delivered to hospitals where it is prepared for transfusion into patients.