Valley Voice Newspaper

Tulare - A total of 753 pints of blood were donated in the Tulare Rotary Club's Memorial Blood Drive, which paid tribute to the 411 rescue workers killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York City.

The total includes donations made in the drive's name at Central California Blood Center locations in Fresno, Visalia and Porterville as well as at the Tulare Veterans Memorial Building.

Fifty pints were donated in the first hour in Tulare and by time the drive wrapped up 12 hours later, 686 pints—the largest number ever donated at a single South Valley location—had been collected, Blood Center officials said.

The number included 214 first-time donors.

“That is a huge number that the Central California Blood Center is very happy about,” said Amy Benton-Hermann, a Rotary Club member who helped coordinate the drive.

While the goal had been to collect 822 pints—two for every rescue worker who died while attempting to save bombing victims, club members were not disappointed with the turnout.

“The Tulare Rotary Club is so proud of our community for its willingness to take part in the drive,” Benton-Hermann said. “We are a community of volunteers and patriots and we feel lucky to be part of such a meaningful event.”

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