The first annual Paul Jones Memorial Red Cross Blood drive tapped success Saturday, collecting more than twice its goal.

The First Annual Paul Jones Memorial Red Cross Blood Drive was held at Calvary Free Will Baptist Church on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in memory of the late Paul Jones.

Jones, a long retired worker with the United Postal Service, donated 15 gallons of blood during the course of his generous lifetime and is recognized by his community of faith for his long standing Christian beliefs. Jones’s family still reside in the Glendale Springs community and remain active members in the church.

Although the American Red Cross set a goal of 30 productive units to be collected during the drive, the Paul Jones drive collected 67 units from 83 individuals, pastor Sonny Thomas stated. The 30-unit goal was set by the ARC based on the number of units collected at the most recent drive at the National Guard Armory in Jefferson.

The first annual event was part of the American Red Cross Bloodstock drive, which is dedicated to area high school and college students in order to motivate the next generation to take an active role in meeting the future needs of patients in the community, the ARC stated. Bloodstock 2008 will run from Dec. 15 to Jan. 15 and consists of a scholarship drawing for any student who plans and organizes a blood drive during times of critical need. According to the Red Cross, for a student to qualify for the scholarship drawings, he or she must plan and organize a blood drive that collects a minimum of 50 units of blood for the $2,000 scholarship or host a drive that collects a minimum of 35 units of blood to eligible for the $1,000.

This year’s organizer is senior Kansas Clarke of Ashe County High School. When Kansas is not dealing with the daunting task of organizing a blood drive she can be seen on the sidelines of local athletic events, cheering on the Huskies’ teams. After graduation, Kansas hopes to major in physical therapy.

For more information on the Paul Jones Memorial Red Cross Blood Drive, please contact Kansas Clarke at 846-3278, Phyllis Ashley at 977-9326, or the Calvary Free Will Church office at 982-4840.

For any high school or college student who would like more information on how to register for Bloodstock 2008, please visit www.redcrossblood.org and click on the Bloodstock link.