The need for blood affects us all. Nine out of 10 of us will need blood some-time in our lives. And one out of every 10 hospital patients requires a transfusion. Although the average transfusion is three pints, some patients require more. Blood is in constant demand for treatment of accident cases, cancer patients, hemophiliacs and for use during surgery. The need for blood never takes a holiday. Currently, the level of blood inventory is lagging far behind. The winter flu epidemic and the winter storms have drastically cut the number of blood donors.

New York Blood Services say they require 2,000 volunteer donations to meet the patient demands at the nearly 200 New York and New Jersey hospitals.

We need all of you to help out. If you are at least 17-years-old, weigh at least 110 pounds and have not donated blood within the last 56 days, you can donate blood. People over 75-years-old can donate blood if they meet all criteria and present a physician's letter. There are some medical conditions that can keep you from donating blood. The guidelines are set by federal, state and local health agencies. If you would like more information on donating blood, you can visit nybloodcenter.org. If you can't physically donate, please ask a friend, family member, co-worker or neighbor.

The Knights of Columbus, with assistance from the Farmingdale Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 516, will be holding their blood drive April 3 at St. Kilian's Auditorium between 8:30 a.m. and 3p.m. There's no better way to help our community than by donating the gift of life.