The dozens of people who turned St. Mary's Church hall in Auburn into a giant blood bank Thursday afternoon had been working since 9 a.m. But some of them had been working even before that.

One of them was Jack Miller, a local Red Cross volunteer who calls potential donors to remind them of drives. Miller, 80, called a list of 300 to 350 names leading up to last week's Community That Cares Blood Drive at the church.

It was nothing new for him. He does the same thing on a smaller scale every month for the Red Cross blood drives that are held at the Auburn United Methodist Church.

“It takes personal contact,” said Miller, who has been volunteering with the Red Cross on blood drives for nine years. “It makes a difference if you talk to people.”

Thursday#'s summer blood drive was especially large, with a donation goal of 350 units. The monthly drive usually collects around 100 units.

Summer brings increased need, said Red Cross regional Account Manager Kristen Hyde. And with fewer students at school, who represent a good portion of blood donors, an extra effort like last week's is necessary, Hyde said.

“Because of the summer, we need to increase (donations),” she said.

It's an efficient process, almost like an assembly line. After waiting for maybe 10 minutes, donors were brought to a confidential area where they give their health histories to make sure they can donate.

Then they moved to the heart of the operation, where 20 cots were on hand for people to lie down while they gave blood. Some of the donors gave what are referred to as double reds, which uses a process that allows twice as many blood cell donations with only a few more minutes on the cot.

Donors sat or lay down while their blood was drawn, some gripping foam balls to help the blood circulate. Afterwards, they got cookies, pizza and other treats before heading back to work or home.

Dozens of volunteers and Red Cross staff members were on hand, manning the various stations in blue or white overcoats, or simply a badge - all with the recognizable Red Cross symbol.

But for these things to be successful, Hyde said people like Miller and other volunteers need to take care of the recruitment. In her personal experience, the most common reason people have for not donating is that no one has ever asked.

“We want to make sure we have as many people as we can to sign up beforehand,” Hyde said.

Miller has been giving blood for years, and has donated 15 gallons over his life. But after he learned he wasn't able to donate anymore, he said, this became the way for him to volunteer.

Along with making the calls and organizing the monthly drives, he works the day of each drive. Miller said he knows his work is making an impact. People whom he has never met in person hear his unique, deep voice and recognize the man on the phone from the Red Cross, he said.

“I enjoy it,” Miller said. “It's my service to my community.”

Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.