Many donors turned out for the first American Red Cross blood drive of the new school year at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Homewood. The drive was hosted by the Knights of Columbus Council 4304. Forty-eight total blood products were donated, 40 whole blood units and four Power Red blood donations which count as double. Several knights cooked and served a hot breakfast for donors and their families during the five-hour blood drive. The menu included scrambled eggs, grits, bacon, sausage, biscuits, and beverages. The Red Cross said there is a dire need of type O blood, the universal type that can help the most people. Donated blood helps cancer patients, trauma patients, sickle cell anemia patients, burn patients, and those with chronic diseases.