KZTV

Posted: Nov 6, 2009 1:17 PM
Updated: Nov 6, 2009 9:49 PM

CORPUS CHRISTI -- Corpus Christi residents are showing their support for those injured in the shootings at Fort Hood by giving blood.

The Coastal Bend Blood Center collected more blood on Friday than any other day since the 9-11 tragedy, and many of the donors are local Army Depot workers.

They usually spend their days repairing helicopters for the Army, but on this day, they rolled up their sleeves and gave blood just in case some of the wounded soldiers from Fort Hood may need it.

Juan Sanchez has worked at the Army Depot for seven years.

"I know people who have friends over there and everybody was trying to contact their friend. Everybody's kind of worried. It's a strange, terrible thing," Sanchez said.

The donors, more than a hundred of them, waited in a long line. CCAD worker Bryan Gomez says it was worth the wait.

"Myself, I've never been in the military, but I support the military and it's important for us to support the military up there," Bryan Gomez said.

The Corpus Christi Blood Bank could be called upon if blood supplies run out at Fort Hood.

"It's amazing how quickly the blood can be off the shelves with one tragedy. One tragedy can use up hundreds of units. When you have multiple tragedies, it's just a ridiculous amount of blood that goes off the shelves," said Breanna Rye with Coastal Bend Blood Center.

"Part of our job, we take care of them. We make sure the equipment they're flying is safe, and they make sure that we stay safe. So a little platelet donation is the least we can do," Sanchez said.