A Red Cross blood drive Wednesday collected 35 units of blood.

The drive was organized by the Anson Women's League. It fell just short of its goal, 40 units.

The drive was held at First Presbyterian Church in Wadesboro. While it looked as if the typical afternoon surge would carry the day, with 31 donors at 5 p.m., the drive fell short. Drives typically see a flood of donors after 5 p.m., coming from work.

Jimmy McCormick of Lilesville was one donor. He first gave blood in 1963 and has given more than 5 gallons since then.

Drives are typically supported by regular donors, who give blood whenever there is a nearby drive and the alloted time between donations has expired.

Unfortunately, those regular donors have often not been enough. The blood drives in Wadesboro, which takes place most months at the church, have often fallen short of their routine goal of 40 pints.

The Red Cross has considered not doing drives in Anson because turnout was low.

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.

The need for blood is dire and routine. A person in an automobile accident may need up to 100 pints of blood while a heart surgery might require 10 pints.

For more information about donating blood, contact the Red Cross at 704-694-3514.