If you give them something, they will come.

While NIU plays host to a slew of blood drives throughout the year, donors showed up in full force this week in what proved to be one of the best blood drives in recent history.

People lined up Monday to donate blood, and the interest in giving didn’t drop off on Tuesday.

Heartland Blood Centers, which holds blood drives on campus throughout the year, ended its two-day drive almost two hours before its scheduled end time because of the abundance of blood donations that were collected.

While people might have donated because of a $25 gift certificate incentive to several local eateries, the courageous showing from the NIU community during this blood drive isn’t something that should end.

About 120 people donated blood over the two-day drive – far more than the 80 or so people that were expected to come.

Because of the tremendous showing earlier this week, about 360 people have the opportunity to have their lives saved because of the donations.

Regardless of whether Heartland continues to offer incentives to blood donors in future drives, the NIU community should continue to build on the success of this week’s blood drive.

On a campus with tens of thousands of people, 120 donations should be only the beginning of the amount of generosity that all of us can offer.

Because blood also can only be stored for about 40 days after its donation, perspective donors shouldn’t feel that one contribution is all they can offer.

Help save a life – someday, you might be the one that needs the blood.