Daily News Photo by CRISTIAN SIMESCU Luis Hospital Blood Bank technician Debra Andrews tends to Gertrude Roman on Saturday during a blood donation drive in Estate Peter's Rest. The blood drive was organized by the American Legion Post 102 and the Knights

ST. CROIX - Two civic organizations led an effort in Estate Peter's Rest during the weekend to bolster Luis Hospital's blood bank.

American Legion Post 102 and the Knights of Columbus spearheaded the drive, in which nine people gave blood in the hospital bloodmobile over a period of six hours.

Post 102 commander Secundino Roman Cruz said they have been organizing the blood drive around Thanksgiving for the last four years.

"We need to help the blood bank to make sure they have extra life out there," Cruz said.

Cruz also said he would have liked to see greater participation in the effort. "You never know who you are going to help," he said.

Luis Hospital blood bank technician Debra Andrews said Plaza Extra, Divi Carina Bay, Johnny Mango's, Pueblo and Junie's Restaurant provided gift certificates for blood donors.

"The community needs to know that the blood donated here stays here to help us in the community," said Andrews. "We would like to see more people in the community get involved and donate. I want to stress we never know. We never know when we are going to need blood."

She said the hospital's blood bank is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and that appointments are not necessary.

Andrews said the blood bank purchases blood from Puerto Rico to make up for shortages. "If enough people would donate here on island, we would be self-sufficient," she said. "Locally we don't collect enough."

She thanked all groups that have hosted blood drives throughout the year.

Any organization, church or civic group interested in organizing a blood drive - or anyone who wants to donate blood - can contact Andrews at the Luis Hospital blood bank at 778-6659.