Employees of Allen County and Fort Wayne (left) donate blood at the first City-County Winter Blood Drive at the City-County Building on Jan. 12.  Even County Commissioner Bill Brown (right) rolled up his sleeve to donate.

With the Red Cross in urgent need of blood after the cancellation of several drives last week, employees of Allen County and the City of Fort Wayne once again answered the call in record-setting fashion.

The first City-County Winter Blood Drive held Tuesday at the City-County Building’s Omni Room saw 83 people presenting to donate.  That topped the record of 82 presenting at the City-County drive in June of 2008.

The Red Cross was able to collect a total of 76 units of blood, also beating the previous June 2008 record of 75 units.

“Because of last week’s snow, we had to cancel two of our scheduled drives,” said Kathy Workinger, Donor Recruitment Representative with the Red Cross.  “With our supplies getting low, we were hoping for a good turnout at the City-County Building and we got it.”

Traditionally, the City and County hold a combined blood drive each summer.  But because of interest generated when an emergency drive was held in January 2009, the decision was made to conduct an additional winter drive on an annual basis.  The next City-County Blood Drive is scheduled for Tuesday, June 22 in the Omni Room.