MCALLEN - A Winter Texan's first stop in the Valley was a local blood bank.
"I just do it, because it's needed," says Jim Phillips. "Everyone needs to donate."
Phillips is O Positive. He says he's donated 16 gallons of blood.
"It revives me. My doctor says you're renewing your blood," he tells us. "I always feel better."
Donors can't dictate where their blood is headed. But Phillips says he hopes his goes to those wounded in the Fort Hood tragedy.
A gunman there killed 13 people and wounded 31.
United Blood Services Director Frank Esparza says Fort hood hasn't said they blood just yet, but he's stocking up on what he knows they'll need.
"O blood is universal; it's given to anybody," he explains.
Esparza sees a spike in donations every time there's a tragedy. This one is no exception. We're told the appointments have doubled.
"People are concerned," he tells us. "They want to give and donate. They call, ask, 'What can we do? How do we help?'"
The local center doesn't know if the donations will ever go to Fort Hood. But either way, they want to be ready for the need, whether it's for a Valley resident or a soldier.
