The amount of donors willing to give blood has sharply declined after a post Sept. 11 boost; however, interested sponsors for campus blood drives have increased steadily after the tragedy.

Melissa Webb, campus donor relations coordinator, said America’s Blood Center’s blood drive held soon after Sept. 11 generated 130 to 150 students and over half were first time donors.

But several months after the tragedy donors have decreased to a turnout of just over 30 students, while drives before Sept. 11 brought between 30 to 50 students, she said.

Tracy Torbeck, territory manager for The American Red Cross, said donations often increase in the wake of disasters or national tragedies because the events bring the need for blood to the forefront and make people realize they need to do their part.

However, not everyone realizes the need for blood all the time, but the Red Cross tries to keep people informed, she said.

“Initially, there was a surge of donors on campus, but unfortunately people have not kept up with that,” she said.

Another reason for the decrease, Web said, could be because of concerns about blood banks disposing of expired blood after the explosion of donors.

But she said that America’s Blood Center did not have to dispose of any blood because they requested donors strictly on a need basis on Sept. 11.

America’s Blood Center hopes at least 50 people will donate at the blood drive tomorrow in the University Ballroom of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union, bringing the organization’s donation numbers back to average, Webb said.

“It’s important right now for students to donate because we need to see a big increase before people leave for summer, ” she said. “We lose a large donor base during the summer.”

Torbeck said that the Red Cross’s first campus blood drive since Sept. 11 in October generated a “phenomenal amount of people” with 271 people turning out.