ST. LOUIS -- The emergency appeal for blood donations by the American Red Cross ended Sunday, when the organization surpassed its goal of 5,100 pints.

A regional effort kicked off Dec. 28, due to an insufficient local blood supply for area hospitals. Low donor turnout during the holiday season, along with extremely cold weather, had dropped the Red Cross blood supply to emergency levels.

A local drive last week raised more than 180 pints of blood toward the effort.

At least 650 pints were donated Sunday, exceeding the day's goal by 40 percent.

"The pints donated this holiday week will help assure that blood is constantly available for surgeries and other medical procedures," said Neil Bassett, Red Cross principal officer. "Without this generous response from the community, many surgeries would have been canceled in the weeks ahead."

Although the emergency appeal has ended, the Red Cross asks donors to continue giving blood in the weeks ahead to help maintain a consistent blood supply of the 120 hospitals served by the Missouri/Illinois Regional Blood Services.

The need for blood in January is especially critical because it is the month of highest blood usage, since many elective surgeries are scheduled after the holiday season. January is National Blood Donor Month for that reason.

For more information about giving blood or scheduling a blood drive, call the Red Cross at 658-2126. In Illinois, call 1-800-705-2406.