The American Red Cross thanked the university's faculty, staff and students for helping to alleviate a severe regional blood shortage. The Homewood campus drive on July 9 and 10 produced 246 units of blood, which, according to a July 14 letter from Red Cross officials, will help provide enough blood to meet the needs of more than 80 hospitals in Maryland, D.C., northern Virginia and southeastern Pennsylvania.

Laura Graham of Electrical and Computer Engineering was among the early morning donors who filled the beds in the Glass Pavilion on July 10.

"Your commitment to the American Red Cross blood program ensured there was enough blood on the shelves to service the community," wrote Gary Ouellette, chief executive officer for the Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Blood Services Region, and Hector Garcia, chief operating officer for the region. "The blood that was collected at the campus has helped ease the strain of what could be a disastrous turn of events for the public and the American Red Cross."

July's drive attracted more than 338 potential donors to the Glass Pavilion, including 36 people giving blood for the first time. The day's collection of 246 units of blood exceeded last summer's record July drive by 16 units.

More than 60 JHU volunteers, including students, high schoolers attending the pre-college program, staff members and retirees publicized the drive, greeted donors, served refreshments and assisted with paperwork. Student groups supporting the drive were Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity, the JHU Red Cross Corps and Circle K service club.

A second drive, held at Johns Hopkins at Eastern on July 16, added another 30 units to the blood bank, potentially saving 111 lives.

For more on the JHU blood drives, go to www.jhu.edu/~outreach/bloodrive.