Blood banks at capacity, donors urged to return in coming days

See the good in people - it is there in the long lines of people willing to give their blood to strangers and save lives.

"Overwhelmed by people wanting to donate blood to victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting, OneBlood asked donors to stop coming Sunday and schedule appointments over the next few days.

"I've been here 13 years and never seen a response like this," said Pat Michaels, a spokesman for OneBlood, as he revealed the blood centers were at capacity with walk-up donors.

"The sentiment is understood and appreciated, but it's a little too much, too soon," he said.

But the supply will need to be replenished, Michaels said.

Hundreds of Central Floridians lined up Sunday morning at the blood center on West Michigan Avenue after learning about the shooting spree.

OneBlood had put out a call for the donations and still need types O negative, O positive and AB plasma. The agency said the blood donations were needed to aid the wounded.

"You want to do something to help," said Frank Tiffany, 69, of Winter Garden, who was waiting midway through a line that spilled out the door, through the parking lot and down West Michigan Avenue. "It's hard to believe ...You have to do something to help. You can't stay home."