Crowder College in Cassville will host a community blood drive with the American Red Cross today (Wednesday) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Student Commons at Crowder College, located at N. 4020 Main Street in Cassville.

The drive is open to the Public and will be Crowder’s 53rd American Red Cross Blood Drive, where 1,177 donors have given and 1,088 units have been received.

The Red Cross has set a goal of 20 pints this drive. For more information or to make an appointment to donate, people may call 1-800733-2767, or people may sign up online at redcrossblood.org with sponsor code “CCCASS.”

“Crowder College is committed to strengthening our community and helping meet hospital and patient needs through blood donations,” said Sarah Smith, Crowder Cassville director. “This blood drive is our way of giving staff, colleagues and neighbors an opportunity to help save lives.”

Blood is a perishable product that can only come from volunteer blood donors. With someone in the U.S. needing blood every two seconds, blood products must be constantly replenished, according to the Red Cross.

“We urge community members to donate blood and help ensure that patients in local hospitals have a supply of blood ready and waiting before an emergency occurs,” Smith said. “There’s no better feeling than knowing that your blood donation may give someone a second chance at life.”

According to the Red Cross, donors with all blood types are needed, especially those with types O negative, A negative and B negative.