With a goal of 800 pints of blood, the American Red Cross and the Association of Residence Hall Students will sponsor the third annual "Have a Heart Blood Drive" during the next two weeks.

The drive, based on a Valentine's Day theme, starts today in North Halls' Warnock Commons from 1 to 7 p.m.

Redifer and Findlay commons also will host the drive this week. Next week the drive will move to Waring, Simmons and Pollock commons. ARHS is responsible for publicizing, staffing and providing donors.

If donors achieve the goal, the blood will supply all hospitals in Western Pennsylvania for a day and a half, said Connie Schroeder, campus coordinator for the American Red Cross. She added each pint of blood can help three to four people.

"It only takes 10 minutes of your time. You feel real good about yourself when you're done," said Schroeder.

Although no blood shortage exists in the Centre County region, there is a weekly campus collection to contribute to the community blood supply, said Schroeder. The entire region supplies about 500 pints daily to all hospitals in Western Pennsylvania, she added. Last year the drive collected only 500 pints of blood, but Schroeder said the flu epidemic may have caused the poor performance.