Many Eastern students were left feeling helpless after the attacks Tuesday morning on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

However, merely by coincidence, Eastern hosted an America’s Blood Centers blood drive Tuesday, and many students found comfort in donating blood with hopes that it would find one of the victims.

Trish Hayworth, donor relations director, said students started pouring into the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union to donate blood after the news of the attacks found its way into student’s apartments and dorm rooms.

There was an overwhelming amount of support that came from Eastern students, Hayworth said. Many donors were giving for their first time.

“They’re responding to this tragedy -that’s why they’re here,” she said. “Everyone is here to help their fellowman.”

The blood drive was sponsored by Community Blood Services of Illinois, a division of America’s Blood Centers.

All of the blood donated Tuesday goes to local suppliers, Hayworth said. However, any extra blood donated is shared with other America’s Blood Centers, possibly one that is located in New York City.

Hayworth said there was only one word that could summarize what happened at Tuesday’s blood drive, “Wow!”

Jeffrey Collier, a freshman political science major, said his main concern was for the victims of the attacks.

“I wanted to help out the people that were involved,” he said.

Katherine Thomas, a senior English major, said she usually doesn’t donate blood. However, her fear of needles was overridden by an overwhelming sense of need to help the victims.

“A lot of people feel helpless,” she said. “(Giving blood) is the only thing we can do from here.”