 Well in Minnesota, 21 blood drives were canceled or shortened in March for bad weather and now the Red Cross is in urgent need of donations. Our A.J. Feldman was in Pequot Lakes today as people rolled up their sleeves and donated. Pequot Lakes held a blood drive today as members of the community gave back by giving their pint. Pequot Lakes has been doing the blood drives for quite a long time now and it's always the Pequot Lakes student council that's in charge setting it up and finding a location. Winter weather hitting the entire country has canceled numerous blood drives making now an important time to donate blood. And then the other thing that we have to look at too is in the early like the February's and January's or the winter months is the flu's and the cold seasons and the flu's taken quite a get this year too so that also does not help our supply as far as getting caught up. Over 50 people gave blood today in Pequot Lakes as a steady flow of people filled the trail side center all day long. There's just kind of a big need for it. We have a pretty common blood type so they kind of need as much they can get. Not only is it a good cause it can also provide for some healthy competition. We race to see who's the fastest blood letter. I won. She did win today but I won in the past. People gave blood for numerous reasons whether they feel it's just the right thing to do or they have a personal reason to donate. I like to give blood because it does help a lot of people and it really hits home for me. My father has leukemia and is getting blood transfusions quite often and so I'd like to replenish that system you know of blood for other people because it benefits my dad quite a bit. Simpson says she's donated throughout her life and now it's just that much more important for her to give back. This has just really kind of hit home for me. I've been donating blood since I was 16. It's something that I've done for a long time because I'm a universal donor. When I was in college I was in a sorority and we worked for the Red Cross doing running blood donations just like this and so I've just done this all my life. The Red Cross appreciates any donation and encourages people to give blood whenever they can. It's a good cause to come out and give. It doesn't cost you anything other than a little bit of time and we're always very appreciative of it. Reporting in Pequot Lakes, A.J. Feldman, Lakeland News. Blood drives are being held throughout the month of April and you can find your nearest location at redcrossblood.org.