Blood Drive Honors 9/11 Victims

On the 11-year anniversary of 9/11, a blood drive in Johns Creek is honoring the thousands of victims killed during the terrorist attacks on the United States.

Held at the Red Cross Blood Donor Center at 3000 Old Alabama Road in the shopping plaza, the event is part of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community's second annual “Muslims for Life,” a nationwide campaign to collect 11,000 units of blood.

"After 9/11 there was a misconception that we are bad people and that we want to take life," said Shaista Yasmin, a member of the Georgia chapter of the community and an Alpharetta resident. "We want to show that we can give life."

The group is collaborating with the Red Cross in an effort to collect 11,000 units this year. Last year the community collected 10,000 units of blood nationwide to honor 9/11 victims. As of 1 p.m. Tuesday only a handful of donors had trickled in to the Johns Creek location.

The drive continues Tuesday, Sept. 11, through 7 p.m. at the Johns Creek location and at the Red Cross Blood Donor Center in Duluth, 3090 Premiere Parkway.