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Blood banks in El Paso are 'overwhelmed' by donations after mass shooting

The community rallied to support victims of a devastating mass shooting.

Morgan Sung

on August 3, 2019

After a devastating mass shooting, El Paso's community pulled together to donate blood.

A gunman opened fire in a Walmart on Saturday morning, injuring at least 23 people, CNN reports. Police confirmed "multiple" fatalities. This is the 249th mass shooting in the United States this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which means there have been more mass shootings than days in 2019.

The City of El Paso put out an urgent call for blood donors as hospitals drained their supply to treat the victims.

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Hundreds of people lined up outside blood banks to donate after the call went out. Local news stations and Twitter users shared videos of the crowds.

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So many people pulled through, in fact, that donation centers couldn't take more appointments. That doesn't mean that the shortage is over, though. As local station KVIA notes, this is an "ongoing situation" and hospitals will need more donations as they treat patients.

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In addition to donating blood, you can help the victims by donating to a fund set up by the El Paso Community Foundation.