CALL TO FLAGS, ARMS RESIDENTS MOBILIZE IN BLOOD, TOY DRIVES.

SANTA CLARITA - Three thousand miles from the scene of the worst-ever attack on American soil, Santa Clarita has stepped up - giving to those left devastated and showing a burst of patriotism.

Hundreds packed into the American Red Cross service center Thursday to donate blood, two teens launched a teddy bear drive for New York children affected by the disaster, schools planned memorial services, and the city of Santa Clarita placed scores of American flags along Lyons Avenue and Soledad Canyon Road.

``I just wanted to help out,'' said Dennis Lebman, 38, of Castaic, who sipped on juice and watched television after donating a pint of blood. ``It's just tragic to see what's happening in the world. I wanted to do what I could.''

Lebman learned of the blood drive through an e-mail at his work at Princess Cruises and donated during his lunch hour.

``It's pretty sad,'' Lebman said, adding that he was inspired by news reports showing New Yorkers standing in line to donate blood only hours following the attacks on World Trade Center towers Tuesday.

Since then, the Valencia center has been flooded with thousands of calls, and there's been a constant stream of residents stopping by.

``I haven't donated in several years,'' said Penny Young, 38, of Castaic, who brought her 20-year-old daughter for morale support. ``I'm sorry that it took something like this for me to donate again. It's a tragedy but you feel so helpless.''

Unable to donate because of health reasons, Ventura residents Casey Jones and Becca Miller, both 18, decided to launch a teddy bear drive for the children in New York who have been affected by the disaster.

``I'm on antibiotics so I can't give blood,'' Jones said. ``My blood type is O positive, which is the universal blood type, so I was really disappointed. That's when we decided to do something. We want to be able to give a bear to a little child.''

Magic Mountain in Valencia is one of the drop-off sites for the teddy bear drive and will accept donations of new and mostly-new stuffed bears today and through Sept. 23.

The two have already enlisted schools around Southern California to launch teddy bear drives. And a southland trucking company has pledged an 18-wheeler to ship the toys when the drive is over.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Under city orders, Ricardo Mazias of True Green Landscaping raises an American flag Thursday along Lyons Avenue in Newhall.

David R. Crane/Staff Photographer

(2 -- color) First-time donor Lisa Ross of Valencia watches a Red Cross medical assistant gather her blood Thursday.

Shaun Dyer/Special to the Daily News