INDIO —For the fourth consecutive year, the city of Indio took first place honors in this year’s Nine Cities Blood Drive Challenge by collecting 145 units of blood — and those donors are needed, again to help victims of the wildfires.

Same for donors in Coachella, Palm Desert, Indian Wells and more where donors turned out generously.

Coachella took tops honors for the most units of blood collected at a single blood drive. The city collected 68 units at a single drive, edging out a Palm Desert blood drive by one unit.

The city of Indian Wells, for the second consecutive year, grabbed the title of having the highest percentage of residents —.81 percent —donate during the monthly challenge.

In total, the challenge, which included the entire Coachella Valley, generated a new record of 904 units to replenish the supplies of local and regional hospitals since the challenge’s inception in 2013.

Initiated by the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership, the Nine Cities Blood Drive Challenge brings attention to the drop in blood donations during the summer months and is a friendly competition among the nine Coachella Valley cities.

The generosity that propelled the record-setting challenge is needed now for those injured in the wildfires.

To help fire victims, LifeStream will make a financial contribution to those affected by the fires for every blood donation made today through Dec. 31, 2018. Please use code “MCWF” at registration at any donor center or mobile drive. Make your appointment today by calling 800-879-4484 or clicking here: Make an Appointment.

This Thanksgiving season, LifeStream encourages residents to enjoy their blessings while sharing that good fortune with others less fortunate.

Donate blood at a LifeStream donor center or participating mobile drive Sunday, Nov. 18 through Sunday Nov. 25 and receive a $10 Stater Bros. gift card to help fill your holiday or post-holiday table. (NOTE: All LifeStream donor centers are open 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.)

LifeStream is a non-profit blood center founded in 1951 as the Blood Bank of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. LifeStream provides blood products and services to more than 80 Southern California hospitals in five counties. To fulfill patient need, LifeStream must collect 500 blood donations daily.

For more information and to donate blood, click here.