Eastern will sponsor a blood drive after the American Red Cross’ national appeal for all blood types in light of shortages in blood supplies across the nation.

A blood drive sponsored by Eastern Illinois University Student Camps and Conferences Services will be held from 11a.m. to 5p.m. on July, 16 at the Student Recreation Center.

According to a press release by the American Red Cross, if blood is not collected immediately, the blood inventory in the Missouri-Illinois region could fall to the equivolent of less than one-day’s supply.

As of June 25, almost one-half of the American Red Cross blood services regions and about one-third of America’s Blood Center organization’s blood centers are suffering severe shortages.

An Associated Press poll on blood donors was randomly conducted during mid-April by telephone.

The first question asked was how often individuals give blood. 43 percent answered never to the question while 33 percent answered donating less than once every three years.

The AP poll also asked for reasons why people do not donate blood. 65 percent answered they could not because of health, or other reasons while 14 percent said they were afraid of needles. 13 percent said they just did not have time to donate.

Tracy Torbeck, Mattoon American Red Cross, said the only requirements the American Red Cross has for donating blood is that the donator be in good health on the day that they donate, be at least 16 years old with an American Red Cross permission slip and weigh at least 110 pounds.

Torbeck said, anybody who is able to donate blood is encouraged to do so and to continue to give blood every two months after.

The blood drive will be the second held on Eastern’ s campus within the last month and a half.