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--> --> Jackson County residents offer their blood for victims By Myles Murphy Ashland Daily Tidings Hundreds of Jackson County residents have inundated American Red Cross blood donation centers in the last few days, and many who were turned back by long lines have signed up for appointments later in the month. Walk-in donors faced at least a two-hour wait Wednesday afternoon at the hastily set up blood drive center at the First Presbyterian Church in Ashland. "And this is calm compared to yesterday in Medford," Red Cross Donor Resources Consultant Madonna Sipal said. "It's a tribute to the American Spirit." Many of the donors are first-time blood-givers, or hadn't given blood for many years. They were inspired to help in any way they could following Tuesday's terrorist attacks. "It's been years since I donated blood," 69-year-old Medford Resident Wilma Knowles said. "I can't do much to help, but I'm very happy to do it." Knowles attempted to drop in at a Medford blood drive Tuesday, but it was so full she decided to schedule an appointment for the drive in Ashland. Even with the appointment, she ended up waiting. People waiting to give blood sat in chairs watching news of the disaster cleanup efforts on television, filling out donation forms, talking with each other or reading. Everyone got a number which was attached to their shirt, determining when their turn would come up. "I've been here about an hour and a half," said Jennifer Richardson, a 23-year-old Southern Oregon University student. "If me giving a pint of blood can save someone, it's the least I can do." Similar sentiments were shared by most donors, including 22-year-old Ashland Resident Sarah Ashworth. "I've been sitting around watching the news and seeing all these people who have lost people and family members," Ashworth said. "This was about the only thing I could do." Alyssa Gilmore, a 21-year-old SOU student, had also been sitting for at least an hour. "After watching news all day yesterday, it really saddened me," Gilmore said. "I thought about what to do, and there's not much else I could do." There will be another blood drive noon to 5 p.m. Friday at the First United Methodist Church, 607 North Main Street, and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 21 at the First Baptist Church, 2004 Siskiyou Boulevard. "The need for blood is going to continue and we'll need more in October," Sipal said. "We need people to stagger the times they give blood." Call 773-3813 to set up a donation appointment. Also, the Red Cross is taking registration for disaster classes, which are the first step to becoming an official Red Cross Volunteer. The classes begin Tuesday. Call 779-3773 for information. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing