“Overwhelming response” and “tremendous turnout” were some ofthe phrases used to describe the outpouring of support from arearesidents who were eager to roll up their sleeves and donate bloodWednesday for the victims of the recent terrorists attacks.

“Your heart just pours out to the people in New York. Theyreally need blood,” said Pat Nohle of Brookhaven as she waited todonate.

She was one of the fortunate 120 area residents who were able todonate at Brookhaven High School. Over 70 people were turned awayby Mississippi Blood Service officials there because they lackedthe staff and supplies to handle more.

MBS workers, who were greeted by a long line before the drivebegan at 8:30 a.m., were able to have more blood bags deliveredfrom Jackson but failed to get enough donor forms.

“None of our students were able to give because of theoverwhelming response from the community,” BHS science departmenthead Amy Rutland said. “Students were very disappointed.”

The blood drive had been set up weeks ago as a regularlyscheduled drive but turned into a community drive by 9:15 a.m. when56 local residents were already signed up to give.

Some donors who arrived before 10 a.m. were able to fill out thenecessary paperwork and wait in a nearby classroom until spaceswere available.

“I came about nine o’clock this morning, and I waited an hourand a half,” Nohle said. “I decided to leave and run some errands,and asked if they would call me when I could come back.”

She wasn’t able to give until 3 p.m. Nohle said that didn’tbother her because she was just glad to be able to help out theinjured in New York and Washington, D.C.

Many others expressed similar desires to wait as long as it tookto assist in the only way they could.

“I was going to do anything I could do to help,” Chuck Carney, aworship pastor from McComb, said after waiting with his wife,Wanda, more than two hours.

A sense of patience was not the only notable trait during thedrive, according to Rutland, who supervised the event most of theday.

“People have just banded together. Some people brought food forthe people who were waiting to donate,” she commented.

Members of the BHS National Honor Society helped organize theevent and keep it running as smoothly as possible.

Many plan to do so again for the rescheduled student blooddrive, which should take place in several weeks, according toRutland.

Those who missed out on the opportunity to donate will haveseveral more chances in the next few weeks.

The next scheduled blood drive is from 5-8 p.m., Sept. 17, atPleasant Hill Baptist Church in Bogue Chitto.

Fair River Baptist Church on Fair River Road, just off Highway84, will have a blood drive from 5-8 p.m., Sept. 20.

Another blood drive has been set for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sept. 21,and 8 a.m. to noon, Sept. 22, at McLane Southern on Manufacturer’sBoulevard in the Industrial Park.

King’s Daughters Medical Center will host a Mississippi BloodServices blood drive from 2-7 p.m., Sept. 24.