For the members of the US Armed Forces every single drop counts. When you take into account the many dangers they face overseas on a daily basis it is hard not to sympathize with their needs.

At least that is what the Helping a Hero foundation is hoping. On Saturday, March 1, 2008, they will be hosting the first ever military blood-drive and 5K fun run at Ellington Field. In cooperation with the Houston Military Affairs Committee, the nonprofit Hero organization is hoping to collect enough blood to reduce the number of casualties in the military population.

“The donations from the blood drive will go to benefit those injured soldiers who are fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq,” says Jim Stoa, founder and executive director of Helping a Hero. “The number of wounded soldiers is up and they really need blood out there.”

Helping a Hero was created in an effort to establish and fund programs and services that provide financial, emotional, educational, mentoring, recreational, and scholarship support for severely injured military personnel and their families while also assisting the severely wounded and disabled veterans to cope with everyday challenges.

“We live and work next to these soldiers on a daily basis, so caring about their needs and looking for ways to support their efforts is only natural,” says Brian Rinehart, airport manager for Ellington Field. “We are proud to host this first ever event and invite the community to lend their support.”

Ellington Field is home to the Texas Air National Guard, the Texas Army National Guard, the United States Coast Guard, and soon will also host the United States Army Reserve.

The donations that are collected at this event will be sent to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, from which they will then be flown to the battlefields across the world where they are most needed.

Scheduled to take place from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., the blood drive will be open to the public and is free of charge.