In conjunction with the American Red Cross, the University of Maine at Presque Isle will hold its annual fall blood drive on Thursday, Sept. 17. The drive will run from Noon until 5 p.m. in the Campus Center’s Multi-Purpose Room. Members of the campus and community are invited and encouraged to participate in this free event.

The blood drive is sponsored by the University’s Dean of Students Office, the Residence Life Office, and Phi Eta Sigma–National Honor Society. These organizations help the American Red Cross put on three blood drives each year, in the spring, summer, and fall.

Since 1987, more than 5,000 pints of blood have been collected at UMPI through these blood drives. The American Red Cross needs to collect 1,400 pints of blood each working day in order to supply the people of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont.

Walk-ins are welcome; if donors would like to reserve a time in advance, they should call 1-800-GIVE LIFE [1-800-448-3543] or log onto www.newenglandblood.org and type 04769 in the zip code field to make an appointment.

Both UMPI and the American Red Cross encourage members of the campus as well as members of the surrounding communities to make a donation at this time. Their goal for this drive is to collect 100 pints of blood. For each pint of blood donated, three people may be helped.

“We are encouraging everyone to at least consider the possibility of becoming a blood donor,” said Jim Stepp, Dean of Students. “It is relatively painless and doesn’t take much time.”

In the U.S., someone needs blood approximately every two seconds. In comparison, the blood donation itself only takes 10 to 15 minutes – a very short visit when weighed against the lives that are saved. Currently, there is an urgent need for O-, B-, A- and AB blood types.