The Community Blood Center is always out for blood — donations, that is.

That’s because the Lawrence center must collect at least 580 pints of blood every day to meet the area’s needs. Last year, 28,000 people required a blood transfusion.

To help meet such needs, the center is having a blood drive from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday at Lawrence Memorial Hospital in the Jayhawk Auditorium, 325 Maine St.

All donors will receive a T-shirt and pizza. First-time donors will receive a $10 gift card for Lawrence Memorial Hospital’s gift shop.

One donation can help as many as two local hospital patients. To make an appointment online, visit www.esavealifenow.org. Donors also may contact the LMH Blood Bank at 749-6176.