Andalusia and Opp residents have the chance to give the gift of life in memory of a brother and sister gone too soon.

Paula Hester, volunteer coordinator for the Covington County Chapter of the American Red Cross, said the a blood drive is being held in honor of Kenadi and Brayden Ramer, the 3-year-old twins who drowned in their grandmother’s pool in July 2009.

“We ar doing this in memory of our twins,” mom Meredith Ramer said. “We wanted to do something that would benefit others and save a life. We want for people to think about pool safety when they think of Kenadi and Brayden.”

The event will be held this Fri., July 30, from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Andalusia and Opp locations of Superior Bank.

Ramer said they originally had the blood drive scheduled for just the Opp branch, but they have had so many people interested that they opened up another location for the drive.

Hester said there are already about 130 people signed up between the two locations, but with an ongoing blood shortage they can use more.

“It has turned out larger than what I expected,” Ramer said.

“We have a community in Opp and Andalusia that supports us, and we knew they would step up.”

Ramer said the schedule is full in Opp, but walk-ins are welcome.

Those interested in reserving a donation time in Andalusia should contact Jennifer Lewis at the Andalusia branch at 222-0533.

The American Red Cross earlier this month reported a crucially low shortage of O negative blood.

Type O negative blood is always in high demand because it can be transfused to patients with any blood type, especially in emergency situations, Hester said previously.

“Statistics show that every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood,” Hester said. “The Red Cross Alabama and Central Gulf Coast Blood Services Region provides lifesaving blood to approximately 100 hospitals and must have 600 people give blood and platelets each weekday to meet hospital demand.”

To donate, one must be 17 years old (16 with parental permission in Alabama), meet weight and height requirements (110 pounds or more, depending on their height) and be in general good health.

Photo ID or a Red Cross donor card must be presented before donating.

All donors will be automatically entered into drawing to win a $1,000 gift card and their choice of a T-shirt, sunglass lanyards or a Robert Trent Jones coupon for a free round of golf.