NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) - By late Thursday morning many folks were arriving at Northwoods and Citadel Malls to roll up their sleeves and save lives.
The ABC News 4 / American Red Cross blood drive began at 8 a.m. and will run until 8 p.m. at both locations.
By 10:30, about 40 people had donated at the Northwoods site, however there were many empty beds and the American Red Cross stressed that the need for blood remains great.
"Our supply was very low all summer long and we usually bounce back in September but we didn't get the revival we normally do," Laura Zabgy-Dye of the American Red Cross said on Lowcountry Live.
Zabgy-Dye added that the average person who lives to age 75 has a 95 percent chance of needing a blood product during the course of his or her life.
"We had a really strong start," she said of the blood drive. "We're open until 8 p.m. so we're really hoping people come out to support us all day."
