Tom Sammler is no stranger when it comes to donating blood.
"I enjoy doing it," Sammler said. "It takes three hours of my time. I do it every few weeks and for me it's worth it!"
For the past 50 years, this A-negative donor is nothing but positive. Sammler has been rolling up his sleeves and he has donated 78 gallons of life-saving blood and counting.
"I've got the time, I don't mind, like I say its something I know is worthwhile," Sammler said.
Memorial Blood Centers Maureen Maher said just one donation can save up to three lives, but in the summer months, the number of donors goes down.
"There's always a need especially for the universal blood type," Maureen said. "People with O-negative are always needed because they can help, it's a universal blood type. They can help many people and there is so many people that need blood transfusions throughout the year, whether it's a cancer patient that need some help to a pre-mature baby or somebody fighting blood cancer, so really the need is constant."
Maureen said 62% of the population is eligible to give blood but only 3% do, but with the help of others that could change.
"It's such a selfless things to do and it's so easy," Maureen said.
Coming up on July 9, KARE 11 is hosting a Health Fair 11 Summer Blood Drive. If you'd like to donate, the drive is at the Minneapolis Marriott West Hotel in St. Louis Park from 1 to 7 p.m.
Appointments are preferred but walk-ins are welcome!
WATCH MORE ON KARE 11+
Download the free KARE 11+ app for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV and other smart TV platforms to watch more from KARE 11 anytime! The KARE 11+ app includes live streams of all of KARE 11's newscasts. You'll also find on-demand replays of newscasts; the latest from KARE 11 Investigates, Breaking the News and the Land of 10,000 Stories; exclusive programs like Verify and HeartThreads; and Minnesota sports talk from our partners at Locked On Minnesota.
- Add KARE 11+ on Roku here or by searching for KARE 11 in the Roku Channel Store.
- Add KARE 11+ on Fire TV here or by searching for KARE 11 in the Amazon App Store.
- Learn more about the KARE 11+ app for Apple TV in the Apple App Store.
- Learn more about KARE 11+ here.
Watch more local news:
Watch the latest local news from the Twin Cities and across Minnesota in our YouTube playlist: