The American Red Cross of Northwest Missouri is increasing blood supplies in the region with the implementation of its own area blood drives.

The Red Cross held a blood drive Tuesday at Missouri Western State University sponsored by the Center for Multi-Cultural Education.  The goal, to raise 85 units of blood.

“With each blood donation you can save up to three lives,” said Angie Springs, Red Cross Ex. Dir.

By 2 p.m. 45 donors had already given with many other donors lined up.

In previous years the Red Cross of Northwest Missouri did not hold its own blood drives.  However, Springs said the addition of a blood depot at the agency’s Kansas City office has changed the focus in the region.

“We’ve always collected blood with the Red Cross but we’ve never had a primary focus in St. Joe,” Springs said. “We have recently in the last couple of weeks opened a blood depot in our Kansas City office ….So we have a large demand on blood.”

Springs said the addition of blood collections by the Red Cross will add to the efforts to raise blood in the community.  The Community Blood Center had previously been the only collection center in St. Joseph.

The American Red Cross of Northwest Missouri will hold its next blood drive, March 24 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at its location at 401 N. 12th St. in St. Joseph.