With the assistance of the Chamber of Commerce, the most recent Red Cross blood drive was much more successful than other previous efforts.

"It went wonderful," said Judy Duston, director of blood services for the Union County chapter of the American Red Cross.

Fifty-five pints of blood were collected May 27 at First Presbyterian Church in Wadesboro. Sixty-five people showed up but 10 were unable to donate.

The chamber sent e-mails to members and challenged them to show up. The chamber's executive director Lynn Edwards was the first to donate. She stuck around to talk with people while they waited and hand out snacks or drinks to donors.

"The Chamber of Commerce did a fantastic job promoting it and getting people out to donate," Duston said.

"The Red Cross did a great job too, of making phone calls," Edwards added.

Nearly half this month's haul, 30 pints, was collected at the last drive, Duston said.

A few people make up the foundation of the regular drives.

"These are the typical regular donors," said Abul Zaman, team supervisor for blood collection operations.

The drive was almost too successful.

"We weren't really ready for that many people to come out and donate," Duston said. She also said she appreciated the donations and the donors' patience.

"Some people have had to leave because of the wait," Edwards said May 27.

The drive collected three or four units of "double reds." Duston said this involves filtering out the red blood cells and returning the blood plasma to the donor.

It is often given to infants or leukemia patients, she said.

A pint of blood can be used to save up to three lives, by separating it into three parts: the platelets, plasma and red blood cells.

A person in an automobile accident may need up to 100 pints of blood while a heart surgery might require 10 pints, Duston said in January.

The Red Cross holds a blood drive at the church each month. The Red Cross may be reached at 704-694-3514.