They never thought it possible, but the American Red Cross has so much blood that it's turning potential donors away. As of yesterday, the Red Cross won't be accepting donors on campus who don't already have an appointment.

"Blood only lasts for 42 days; after that, it goes bad," said Jackie Mokychic (junior-kinesiology), a Red Cross volunteer. Donors are only eligible to give blood every 56 days, so if the Red Cross accepts too much blood, some may perish before it can be used and people won't be eligible to donate again.

"What we really need is for people to come back in November so we can have a constant supply," Mokychic said. Due to the high response of blood donors, the Red Cross held an emergency blood drive at the White Building yesterday.

During the first day of the blood drive last week, volunteers were getting around 75 donations a day, said Kendra Gettig, president of the Penn State Student Red Cross Club.

Since Tuesday, the club has collected blood from about 35 people an hour, adding up to almost 250 donations each day, after turning away some who were not eligible to donate.

"I came in Tuesday to donate, but they didn't have time to fit me in then, so I made an appointment for today," said Sarah Sweeney (junior-secondary education), a first-time donor. "I'll probably be here for another hour — I'm missing class for this. I'm a little scared (to give blood), but I want to help."

Many people who have since tried to donate and were turned away instead decided to volunteer at the drives. Some volunteers are staying for more than 10 hours a day. Wendi Keeler, Red Cross field representative, said the organization hasn't seen as many survivors as hoped from the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks, so the demand for blood has not been as high as originally thought.

"We were allowed to collect 150 percent over our goal," Keeler said. "However, the need that everyone thought would happen didn't." None of the blood being donated at Penn State currently is being shipped to New York or Washington, D.C., Gettig said. The need for blood, however, is still strong locally, and she encourages people to donate as often as they can.

"All the support we're getting right now is incredible," Gettig said.

"Although people should not only donate in times of tragedy."

The Red Cross said in a press release that the group is "heartened by the tremendous support" it has received.

"Your generosity has inspired the American Red Cross, and you will be appreciated by hospital patients everywhere," the release said.