Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — The Bonfils Blood Center in Denver is reporting it is down to a three-day supply of blood. But it can't be because Steamboat donors didn't turn out in record numbers on Tuesday.

"We had the best drive ever, with 211 healthy units," local organizer Terry Sherrill said.

Steamboat Springs set a local record for blood donations during the last blood drive here in October, with 199 units. The records are becoming a trend the previous high mark had been set in July.

Sherrill said 235 people turned out at Steamboat Springs Airport on Tuesday hoping to give blood. Of that total, 27 were first-timers, and 24 people were deferred. Deferrals take place for a variety of reasons, the most common being that the individual is suffering from a common cold.

One local business went beyond the call of duty in getting its employees to give blood.

"City Market shuttled 21 of its employees out to the airport while they were on the payroll," Sherrill said. "I also want to say that I appreciate the city so much for donating (the space at) the airport. And especially all of the donors for taking time to give blood. Only 2.5 percent of the people in Colorado regularly give blood."

City Market Manager Eric Widner said it was Sherrill's selection as Bonfils blood drive organizer of the year that inspired him to organize his employees to donate blood.

"I give blood regularly, and when I went last October, I realized that we have quite a resource at this store," he said.

Widner said he thinks many people who don't give blood now might if their employers could make it more convenient.

Widner said he takes pride in the fact that more than 20 of his employees responded to the call for blood donations.

Bonfils' goal is to collect 2,300 units of blood a week to meet the demand statewide.