A Red Cross blood drive Wednesday collected 29 units of blood.

It fell short of its goal of 40 units. The drive was held at First Presbyterian Church in Wadesboro from 1:30-6 p.m.

"It's been very slow," Benita Singleton, the site supervisor, said.

One local family came to donate together.

Kourtnie Webb, her father Frank Webb and her cousin Jessica Webb all donated.

It was Jessica's first time donating blood.

"My whole family has done it so I'm just carrying on the tradition," Jessica Webb said. She felt a little nervous about the prospect but was fine once the procedure began.

Drives are typically supported by regular donors like Frank Webb, 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 take place most months at the church, have often fallen short of their routine goal of 40 units.

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.