KANSAS CITY, KS (KCTV) -
Many are wondering how they can help victims on the East Coast. The American Red Cross is holding a blood drive at the Legends in Kansas City, KS.
Tuesday's regularly scheduled blood drive was busier than usual, packed with people wanting to help their neighbors to the east.
At the Legends, donors literally rolled up their sleeves to help.
"I just saw the news this morning and the images that were coming over," said Kimberly Annis of Kansas City, MO, while donating.
Those images she saw were of parts of the largest city in the country underwater.
"Sandy has forced the cancellation of more than 300 blood drives on the East Coast across 14 states and right now we're 9,000 units short of blood and platelets across the nation," Jamie Dierking with the American Red Cross said.
"That's crazy when you consider the concentration of people up there and they're still short 9,000 units - that's amazing to me," Annis said.
That's why so many people in the metro are stepping up to help out. They turned out in good numbers at the Legends, but everybody else who missed out by no means missed an opportunity if you couldn't come out Tuesday.
"This is a huge disaster and this will go on not just for days and weeks, but probably for a couple of months," Dierking said.
So no matter when or where, give if you can, knowing you're making a difference.
Those working want to reassure people with reservations that it doesn't hurt.
Click here to find a blood drive location and time as well as more information on other ways to donate.
Copyright 2012 KCTV (Meredith Corp.) All rights reserved.
