Residents in Manatee County giving blood to honor 9/11 victims | From Bay News 9

BRADENTON — 

While many will take a moment of silence or attend a special ceremony to remember the victims of 9/11, in Manatee County, several community members are giving blood to help honor the lives lost.

On Thursday, Manatee Technical College held a remembrance blood drive. Organizers said they thought the best way to mark the 14 years since the attack was to save lives.

They said they also chose to donate blood because this is the same group that helped many of the victims on Sept. 11, 2001.

“With this company, originally it was Florida Blood Services, and they merged with some others and became One Blood,” said Kelly Ewing, a Marine Mechanics Instructor at MTC.  “Florida Blood Services was the first airplane that was allowed to fly after the disasters of 9/11, and they support a lot of different blood services.”

Organizers said they had a huge turnout on Thursday.

The blood drive will be held again on Friday at the school’s campus from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

All donors will receive a free limited-edition 9/11 commemorative t-shirt and a wellness checkup. The free checkup includes blood pressure, pulse, temperature, iron count and cholesterol screening.

Every donation can save up to three lives.

The MTC Main Campus is located at 6305 State Road 70 East, one mile west of I-75 exit 217B.