Pints of donated blood can add up to $500 in free tuition.

The LifeShare community blood drive, conducted by LifeShare Community Blood Services, will be held in the parking lot behind the DeWeese Health Center Feb. 20 and 21 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“For every 35 units of blood donated, a $500 scholarship is created,” said Sarah Hallsky, graduate assistant in the Office of Student Health Promotion.

Share life, give blood Walk-ins are welcome, but for more convenience, students are encouraged to pre-register. Volunteers can register early at the following locations: • Today, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., second floor, Kent Student Center • Today, 5-8 p.m., Tri-Towers rotunda near Rosie’s • Wednesday, 6-9 p.m., M.A.C. Center during the men’s basketball game. A table will be set up near the student entrance. Students may also sign up online at www.lifesharedonor.org.

Every Kent State student is eligible to apply for the available scholarships, whether they donate blood or not, but donations are encouraged.

Last year the organization was able to create five scholarships, and members hope to create more this year.

The more donations, the more scholarships there are for students, Hallsky said.

“So many people are in need for blood, and this is just a convenient way for students and the campus community to help out,” said Kristy Knight, a student assistant at the Office of Student Health Promotion.

Representatives from the DeWeese Health Center and LifeShare will be giving T-shirts to all volunteers. There will also be free food, door prizes and other giveaways.

To be eligible to donate, volunteers must be at least 17 years old, weigh 110 pounds and be in good health.

Students are still able to donate if they have had a tattoo or piercing done in the last year, as long as a licensed person did it in Ohio, Hallsky said.

Unlike other organizations, LifeShare has a one-stick policy. If for some reason they can’t get you set up on the first poke, they will not attempt it again, Hallsky said.

The average donation is about a pint of blood and the time it takes varies from person to person.

“It takes so little time, effort and pain to save a life,” Knight said.

Freshman orientation students can also earn their health issues credit by donating blood, Knight said.

To apply for the LifeShare scholarships, contact the Office of Student Health Promotion at (330) 672-2320.

Contact on-campus medicine reporter Sarah Cockrell at [email protected].