The quarterly Washington-Wilkes Community Blood Drive sponsored by the Wills Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and the Shepeard Community Blood Center on Thursday August 7, had to be cancelled midway the drive because of a storm in the area.

Lightning knocked out electric power at the First United Methodist Church where the drive was being held and some of the equipment was also affected.

The drive has been rescheduled for Thursday, September 4, at the Methodist Church on Spring Street from 2 until 7 p.m.

"Cancelling this blood drive hit our blood supply hard," says Linda Walker on behalf of the Shepeard Center. "That was 50 units of blood lost that would have created 150 transfusions for our local hospitals."

"With the newly rescheduled drive," she continued, "just a few days after Labor Day, blood donations will be needed more than ever. A long holiday weekend always creates a greater need for blood donations."

The need for blood in the area has increased by 25 percent during the past five years while the number of donors has remained the same.

"Imagine the cost of a gallon of gasoline going up 25 percent while your paycheck remains the same," the Walker said. "Imagine the cost of food increasing 25 percent while your take home pay remains the same. We consolidate our short trips to save on gasoline. We watch for advertised specials at the supermarket. But there is no substitute for blood. That's why we need more people to donate blood.

"Please keep giving blood. It is the right thing to do. It saves local lives," Walker concluded.