COLUMBUS, Ohio – More than 14,000 16-year-olds have given blood in Ohio since the state lowered its minimum donor age from 17 to 16 last fall, according to the American Red Cross.

The young teens’ donations – 14,215 from Oct. 6 through the end of August – have helped some 42,000 people, the Red Cross said.

“I think we have a new generation of young people who are really getting energized about getting to give blood, to do anything that supports the community,” said Michael Farley, who directs government and external relations for the Red Cross in Ohio.

Now, officials like Farley hope that early start as a donor will foster a lifelong commitment.

“If we can just keep some of them, we’re going to have a very vibrant blood supply into the next century,” Farley said.

Twins Jill and Sean Deken, 16, donated for the first time last month and said they plan to give blood regularly.

“Maybe I’ll need that blood some day, and I’m happy to help,” Sean Deken said.

The number of new donors comes at a time when blood drives at businesses have seen smaller turnouts because more Ohioans have lost their jobs, Red Cross spokesman Rodney Wilson said.

“We’ve been trying to target other groups where the population has not decreased: high schools, colleges and churches,” Wilson said.

The state changed the minimum age requirements about the same time that the Red Cross tightened up restrictions for teen donations. The Red Cross says donors younger than 19 must meet height and weight criteria.