The American Red Cross will host a blood drive in the University Ballroom from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m. Wednesday in order to help save lives.

The Blood Drive, sponsored by the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity, will provide refreshments from corporate sponsor Papa John’s and free T-shirts to donors, while supplies last.

Danny Battista, community service co-chair for Delta Tau Delta and vice president of Eastern’s blood drive committee, said “the purpose of the blood drive is to save lives.”

“Our goal is to to increase the blood supply by motivating people to give the gift of life,” Battista said.

Torbeck agrees, “How much time in a day would you give to save a life?”

“One hour in six months is great, the importance of giving blood is unfathomable,” she said.

Torbeck said that only 4 to 5 percent of the population actually donates when 60 to 80 percent are capable. The national average for donations is 1.6 times per year, but most are capable of six times per year.

“We would like a first-time donor to become a lifetime donor,” said Torbeck.

Battista, a junior finance major, said “by giving blood, donors will get the satisfaction and self-gratification of knowing that they have saved another human’s life – and some teachers will give extra credit.”

“Our blood goes directly to St. Louis for testing and then is dispersed throughout our region, 112 counties from Illinois to Missouri. Each one pint donation can help one to four patients in hospitals,” Tracy Torbeck, the Red Cross territory manager, said.

Torbeck has had the position for “about two years,” she said.