Community gathers for American Red Cross blood drive for South Bend police

South Bend, Ind. -- The community came together today to roll up their sleeves and donate blood, as the South Bend Police Department partnered up with the South Bend Medical Foundation to solicit the donations.

The Medical Foundation was specifically looking for O-Positive and O-Negative blood types, due to the critical national blood shortage according to the American Red Cross.

Type O is the most transfused blood type, and O-Negative is the universal donor, meaning the red blood cells can be safely given to patients of any blood type.

Blood Donor Recruitment Specialist Leslie Crawford says all donations remain in the community and are used to supply local hospitals. "Blood donations are essential for saving lives, especially in trauma situations," Crawford said.

Donors shared that it means more than just donating blood; it's a way to give back to those who depend on it.