MOUNT VERNON — The Columbia Elementary school family has hit the record books.

On Wednesday, the student council-sponsored blood drive collected 71 units of blood with 33 first-time donors participating. That community response, according to Kelly Brenneman of the Knox County Chapter of the American Red Cross, is record setting for a Pint Size Heroes program in an elementary school in the central Ohio blood region.

“I am blown away,” Brenneman said. “I couldn’t be more thrilled. The goal original goal was 30 pints, and having more than 25 first-time donors usually happens at high schools. It’s awesome.”

Columbia fifth-grader Katie McManaway said she was happy with the turnout.

“At first I didn’t think a lot of people would come,” she said, “but a lot of people did come.”

She thinks donating blood is important and said the student council decided to sponsor a drive in order “to help other people who might have been in a car crash or just need some extra blood.”