By Josh Davis, Red Cross volunteer

“Literally, donating blood saves lives,” said Bob Bugle, glancing around the bustling fellowship hall of St. Edmond’s Catholic Church as volunteers guided donors through snack stations and check-out procedures. “This fits in very well with our organization and what we try to do in terms of community service.”

On April 24, the Knights of Columbus Star of the Sea Council 7297 reached a major milestone: the 1,000th unit of blood donated since the group began hosting American Red Cross blood drives in October 2020 in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Surrounded by community members, volunteers, and a sense of quiet celebration, the moment was marked by a simple but powerful truth—this work matters.

Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood. 

“We realized early on that there weren’t enough opportunities to donate in this area,” Bugle said.  “So we worked with the Red Cross to start a regular drive, and the rest is history.”

Since 2020, the Rehoboth-based council has hosted 13 blood drives, typically three per year—in January, April, and October—timed for the off-season when local parking is free and beachgoing crowds are more manageable. Averaging around 100 appointments per drive, they’ve become one of the most active and successful blood collection sites in the state.

Bugle, the council’s health services officer, emphasized the volunteer effort behind each event.

“It takes the whole council, really. We have guys at the front desk making sure donors are checked in on time. That’s important because people have lives, jobs, families. They’re carving time out of their day to help others and we want this experience to be smooth and efficient.”

That neighborly efficiency was evident, with donors reclining quietly during their donations, then enjoying juice and snacks while chatting with volunteers. 

One donor, Buddy Clark, a retired U.S. Army military policeman, explained why he rushed over when he saw the opportunity.

“I hadn’t donated for a while and realized I was eligible again,” he said. “I had a small window today and figured I’d get it done.”

Clark, who has also donated through other organizations, was making his first Red Cross donation at this event. 

“Sometimes, on an operating table, they’ll need three or four pints. That’s a lot,” he said. “Donating might save someone’s life. If you’re able, I think everyone should consider it.”

For Clark, the need for blood isn’t abstract—it’s something he witnessed firsthand during his years of service. 

“Being in the Army, I recognized there was a need then. There’s just as big a need now,” he said.

The need is urgent and constant. The Red Cross must collect approximately 12,500 blood donations every day to meet national needs, supporting accident and burn victims, transplant and cancer patients, and those with chronic conditions like sickle cell disease. Yet only about 3% of eligible Americans currently donate blood.

That’s why events like the one at St. Edmond’s matter so much. Every pint collected could be part of saving a life, and every donor adds to the chain of care that stretches far beyond Rehoboth.

To recognize their impact, the American Red Cross presented the Knights of Columbus with a commemorative plaque for their 1,000-unit milestone.

“We’re very proud of this,” Bugle said. “But mostly, we’re grateful. Grateful for the donors who show up, and for the volunteers who make this work possible. It’s been wonderful seeing how the community has responded.”

For more information or to schedule a donation, visit RedCrossBlood.org or download the Red Cross Blood Donor App.