Citizens across the country who donated blood in response to Tuesday’s terrorist attacks have given enough blood to meet New York’s emergency needs – and then some.

Officials at the New York Blood Center said they have adequate supplies as of Wednesday afternoon. The National Guard has trucked blood supplies to the emergency zone from other states, although Ames blood donations will not make the trip, a Mary Greeley official said.

On both local and national levels, the response from donors has been overwhelming, said Keith Arneson, director of laboratory services at Mary Greeley Medical Center, 1111 Duff Ave.

“Since this started [Tuesday] morning, we’ve taken more than 800 calls,” Arneson said.

Mary Greeley’s blood bank normally handles 10 to 15 donations per day; they have now tripled their staff to accommodate 60 donors per day.

Arneson said 35 people gave on Tuesday and appointments have been scheduled for 60 donations daily through Friday. “We’ve booked donors into early October.”

Mary Greeley spokesperson Erin Sandquist said that since Tuesday, the bank has seen more young donors than usual.

“There was an immediate response from the college community,” she said.

Some of the first phone calls received Tuesday came from fraternities and sororities hoping to donate as a group, she said.

Autumn Wilmert is one of the many ISU students who called the blood bank to donate. This freshman in meteorology said giving blood was just one way she could contribute to the relief efforts.

“We can hope that our prayers are heard, but this is a physical way to help,” she said.

Wilmert said she has made several efforts to get her Alpha Chi sorority sisters involved in helping the victims of the terrorist attacks. Twenty women joined her at the candlelight prayer service Tuesday night at the campanile and several have given blood or have set up appointments to donate.

“I think it’s great how everyone wants to get involved,” she said. “It’s unreal how everyone is coming together to help someone halfway across the country.”

She said giving blood is a fairly easy way to help.

“It’s not as hard as some think,” she said. “The idea that you’re helping someone else gets you through.”

Wilmert said she hopes the ISU fall blood drive will have a greater turnout because of the awareness this tragedy has brought.

Sandquist also is hoping this tragedy will help increase blood donations in the future. She said there has been an increase in the number of first-time donors.

“We hope they’ll continue,” she said.

Arneson said the Red Cross has been referring donors to Mary Greeley, the only place in Ames where blood donations are being taken.

Nearly 600 people are on the bank’s waiting list, Sandquist said. They were told their donations probably will not be needed, but they will be notified otherwise.

Even though extra staff have not been called in for next week, they will be if the need arises, Arneson said.

He said the American Red Cross was prepared for this emergency and did not make a plea for blood.

“The Red Cross had 50,000 to 80,000 units in its inventories. They could’ve quadrupled New York’s blood supply,” he said.

Arneson said the New York Blood Center usually has an inventory of 20,000 units and only has used and distributed 500 more units than normal.

Although the need for blood has been met, both Sandquist and Arneson expressed their appreciation to the Ames community.

“We can’t emphasize enough how thankful we are to the community,” Sandquist said.