Two local groups will hold blood drives today in an effort to counteract recent statewide shortages in certain blood types.

The American Red Cross hopes University students returning from holiday break will end a current shortage of Type O blood at the state level, said Connie Schroeder, campus coordinator for the Johnstown region.

The Graduate Student Association, along with the Returning Adult Students Organization, is sponsoring the blood drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today in 101 Kern Building.

The Centre Communities Red Cross chapter, 121-1/2 E. Beaver Ave., needs students to donate to increase the blood supply, she said.

"We've been through a long dry spell," Schroeder said.

Virginia Brown, director of the Centre Communities chapter of the American Red Cross, cited cold weather, sickness and an increase in the amount of hospital surgery as reasons for the blood shortage.

Today's drive is the fourth GSA has held this year, said GSA President Ken Martin, adding that the organization tries to schedule its blood drives when Red Cross shortages occur.

Thirty-three people are scheduled to donate blood, he said, but GSA would like to have 60 or 70 donors by the day's end.

"We heavily depend on walk-ins," Martin said, stressing that appointments are not necessary for donation.

The Centre Communities Red Cross chapter is also holding a drive from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. today at its headquarters on East Beaver Avenue, Schroeder said.

About 30 to 40 donors are expected at the Red Cross drive, she said.

The hardest part of recruiting for a blood drive is getting new people to donate for the first time, Martin said.

"There's a lot of apprehension if you've never done it before," Schroeder said.

Martin added once people donate blood and their initial fear is gone, they will not hesitate to donate again.

"I didn't give until my junior year, but I gave six pints last year and I've been giving every 56 days since," Martin said.

The entire process of donating blood takes less than one hour and consists of registering, undergoing a mini-physical, drawing a pint of blood for donation, and having refreshments afterward to prevent fainting or sickness, Schroeder said.

GSA has a table set up in Kern lobby at which people can make appointments, and has also sent flyers to offices in Kern Building to publicize today's drive, Martin said.

The heaviest concentration of donors will come from the northwest area of campus around Kern Building, Rec Hall and West Halls, Martin said.

"It will be convenient for people eating in Otto's (restaurant) in Kern to donate before or after their lunch," Martin suggested.