SUPERIOR – Come help save a life and donate some blood. The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive Thursday, November 21 in Superior.

According to Monte Turner, outreach coordinator for Mineral Community Hospital and organizer of the blood drive, the Red Cross holds drives quarterly.

The drive, sponsored by MCH and Mineral Regional Health Center, will be held in the Superior ambulance facility’s meeting room. MCH and MRHC do not receive anything from the blood drive and are only there to sponsor the Red Cross.

Turner explained how the Red Cross crew arrived in a caravan, which he described as almost like a circus coming to town, and set up the operation from one truck. He said the crew used a semi trailer filled with the supplies needed for blood drives. The operations are well choreographed and the crew could get set up and taken down in short order. Once the day is finished, the caravan leaves and heads back to Missoula.

According to Turner, there are times when the Red Cross needs more blood than others, due to accidents, diseases or simply the need to restock a supply. This, mixed with the short shelf-life of blood, means there is an almost constant need for it within the medical community. People are encouraged to come and make a donation or help with running the operation. Help from the community is always welcome.

Volunteers have been arranged by the Retired Senior Volunteer Project and coordinated by Mary Jo Berry. These people will help with checking donators in, managing snacks and will be available to help to anyone who needs it after blood is drawn.

“It’s going to be more of a community effort than it has been [in the past],” said Turner.

Turner was impressed by the attendance during previous blood drives, saying the community seems very eager to help out this cause.

“It’s amazing how many people have given continually over the years,” he said. “They keep coming back, it’s impressive.”

Turner encouraged people who have never given blood to stop by and see how it is done. He said many may be impressed by how easy it is, and how even people who do not like needles have had little problem with the procedure.

“The actual blood [draw], once the needle goes in to when they shut it off is actually amazingly fast,” said Turner. “They say ‘you’re done’ and I go ‘you’re kidding, I was just getting comfortable.’”

The blood drive will be held from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The Superior ambulance facility is at the corner of Brooklyn and 5th Avenue E. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, contact Monte Turner by calling 822-5122.

At the time of the interview there were only a few appointment slots left, however walk-ins are welcome and will be accepted. Snacks, courtesy of MCH and the Red Cross, will be available after giving donations, usually consisting of cookies, juice and other things to help with balancing blood sugar.