By Ruth SOWBY

Close to 50 people on Sept. 18 packed the Cultural Hall of the La Crescenta congregation of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The American Red Cross van parked near the entrance to the church drew those ready and willing to donate blood.   

In the Cultural Hall, potential donors first waited in the sitting area before being called up to give their medical histories to Red Cross staff.  Once qualified to give blood the donors were stretched out on reclining beds while their blood was drawn.  

Why give blood? A smattering of comments answered the question.  

“This is my first time [donating],” said Altadena resident Edith Lo. “I hadn’t met the weight requirements before.”  Lo weighs 125 lbs. and is 5’ 2.”  

Pasadena resident Kristin Ramondino is a nurse who is used to “hanging” the bags that collect the blood. Today was her day to give; in fact, she usually gives blood at drives “every few months.”  At 5’9,” Ramondino gets to donate a “double pack” of blood.  

Brianna Hay from Glendale has 11 tattoos. Though she may want to donate blood, she has to wait two to three months after receiving a tattoo before she can donate. Hay was donating blood on Sept. 18 in her “grandmother’s memory” – her grandmother had donated blood every eight weeks.  

Pasadena resident Jennifer Valdiviez was the driver and “permission-giver” for her 16-year-old son who gave blood at the drive.  

The Red Cross provides about 40% of the nation’s blood and blood components. But supply can’t always meet demand because only about 3% of age-eligible people yearly donate blood.  

Glendale resident, LDS church member and drive volunteer Tish Mayer made sure the drive ran smoothly.  

“The need for blood is constant,” said Mayer, “and only volunteers can fulfill that need for patients in our community. Nationwide, someone needs a unit of blood every two to three seconds and most of us will need blood in our lifetime.”