An outpouring of blood donations made in the wake of Sept. 11?s terrorist attacks in New York and Washington D.C. forced Associated Students, Inc. to cancel an upcoming drive.

The blood drive had been planned for Sept. 18 and 19, said ASI Community Service Coordinator Trisha Randall. It is not known whether the drive will be rescheduled this semester.

Between last Tuesday and Wednesday, the Sacramento Blood Center had collected 10 times its normal supply of blood, said Field Recruitment Supervisor Debbie Milios. This, in combination with the short life span of blood, forced the center to cancel all of its upcoming blood drives.

“Unfortunately, they aren?t using a lot of blood because they aren?t finding survivors,” Milios said. “Morally and ethically, we would never collect blood that wouldn?t be used.”

Thousands of Sacramentans turned out to donate blood last Tuesday after learning of the attacks.

“When all this came down the pipe, immediately we started getting phone calls,” said Debbie Milios, field recruitment supervisor at the Sacramento Blood Center. More than 3,000 people lined up last Tuesday morning, many of them waiting for four to five hours to donate.

Milios teared up when recalling the outpouring of support she had witnessed.

“After they donate, they fill out comment cards. People were writing things like ?God bless America? and ?We will never forget.?” Milios said. “It was sort of a bonding experience for them, I think. They laughed, they cried.”

Blood center staff will be on campus today collecting pledges for donations to be made over the upcoming weeks and months.”This is something that could become critical,” Milios said. “We could go to war.”

Milios noted how easy and rewarding the process is.

” It only takes five to seven minutes to give a pint of blood,” Milios said. The center also offers popcorn, doughnuts, cookies, juice and soda to its donors.

Students who still want to help are urged to call (866) 82-BLOOD to pledge a donation.