Blood drive brings community together after DC guardsmen attack

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - The International Institute of St. Louis teamed up with the U.S. Afghan Chamber of Commerce and the Red Cross on Friday to help collect blood amid a nationwide shortage.

After the deadly attack on National Guard members in Washington, D.C. last month, organizers started looking for a way to give back locally.

They said they also wanted to send a strong message of support for the Afghan-American community.

“We bleed the same. There is no difference between Afghan blood or American blood or any other nationality, we all bleed the same,” said organizer Sulaiman Sulaimankhil." “We’re showing here that the community here is ready to mobilize, that the people are ready to show up for their community for their city when they’re called upon.”

This blood drive was open to all.

It’s the first of many nationwide under the “I4USA” initiative, aiming to engage Afghan communities and their neighbors across the country while helping ease national blood shortages. Read more.