Julia Jeong, a senior at Bates College, donates blood Monday, as Brenda Seliano tends to donor Tom Menendez of Monmouth, at the Lewiston liberal arts college. “I am two more donations from a 5-gallon pin,” says Menendez, who receives notes from the American Red Cross about where his donations are used. “I think those notes are what keeps me coming back every 60 days.” The first American Red Cross blood drive at Bates since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 brought in 58 donors Monday. Bates sophomore Sivani Arvapalli organized the blood drive because she says she wanted to help after the Oct. 25 mass shooting in Lewiston. All of the blood drives after the shooting were filled for three weeks. “I was motivated to do it, so I got it done,” Arvapalli says. Jennifer Costa of the American Red Cross says there is a nationwide shortage of blood. About 62% of those who are old enough are eligible to donate, but only 3% do, Costa says. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal