Norwich — Back in December, sponsors of Friday’s “Community EPIC Blood Drive” originally were concerned they might be pushing it if they stated a goal of 60 donors in the five-hour timeslot planned.

But with state and federal leaders urging people to donate blood now that the coronavirus has shut down thousands of blood drives nationwide, Friday’s event at the Holiday Inn in Norwich turned out to be popular. As advanced registrations ramped up, its co-sponsors, the Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce and Heart Life CPR, extended the hours, opening the doors at 8 a.m. instead of 1 p.m.

By 1:30 p.m., 117 donors had given blood, and several waited, spread out among the chairs in the waiting area, for their turn. At most times, all eight beds were occupied by donors, volunteers staffing the drive said.

“We started getting really excited to do another epic blood drive,” Chamber Executive Director Angela Adams said.

“So many blood drives have been canceled,” Heart Life CPR founder Bradford Hyde said. “But even with the coronavirus, we’ve gotten 117 so far.”

Something was missing from Friday’s event, however. The chamber had planned it as a business event, with local businesses asking their employees to volunteer to greet donors and provide snacks after their donations. Contests were to be held for the business with the best hospitality team. To limit the size of the gathering, those activities were canceled.

Instead, chamber member and volunteer Erin Challinor of Norwich, a patient attendant at the William W. Backus Hospital, greeted people by taking their temperatures and squirting a bit of hand sanitizer into their hands. Anyone with a temperature above 99.5 degrees could not enter the banquet room where the drive was taking place.

Tashonda Harrison, team supervisor for the Connecticut chapter of the American Red Cross in Farmington, said two shifts of eight workers each ran the blood drive, keeping staffing to a minimum. She said about 10 blood drives were held in the state Friday, when on a normal Friday, 15 or more would be underway.

“We try to stay a few days ahead in our blood supply,” Harrison said, “because in a few weeks, we don’t know what we’re going to see.”

Donor Timothy Dowhan, 61, of Norwich said he has donated five gallons of blood over the years but hadn’t donated “in a while.” He saw stories about the severe blood shortage and the publicity about the Norwich drive on his Google Newsfeed, so “I figured I should help out.”

Dowhan and other veteran donors said the new online blood donation registration made it easier. Donors can find local blood drives and register using RapidPass on the day of the drive. “It was very easy, very accommodating,” Dowhan said.

Mark Chanski, 56, of Baltic said he heard President Donald Trump urge people to donate blood in response to the nationwide shortage. He looked it up online and found the Holiday Inn drive close by.

As of Tuesday, 2,700 planned Red Cross blood drives have been canceled by host or sponsoring groups because of coronavirus concerns, resulting in 86,000 fewer blood donations. In Connecticut, 46 blood drives, expected to yield about 1,300 donations, have been canceled.

The Red Cross also is extending hours at its Norwich donor center at 45 Salem Turnpike. The center will be open at least 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily and will be open until 6:15 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the foreseeable future. To register for an appointment, go to RedCrossBlood.org in advance, or use the RapidPass registration form, also on the website, to register on the day of the drive.

Miranda Mahoney, 41, of Griswold said her group, Griswold Pride, a drug-free community coalition, is a new member of the Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce. Mahone said she has a rare blood type, O-, and wanted to come to the chamber blood drive.

“This is my first official chamber event,” Mahoney said. “I just wanted to do my civic duty.”

c.bessette@theday.com