The Community Blood Center has teamed up with the Lawrence Scottish Rite Bodies to provide bimonthly blood drives in Lawrence.

The Kansas City, Mo.-based blood center closed its 11-year-old Lawrence center in September because of the economy and lack of donations.

“This is trying to fill the gap, giving Lawrence residents a place that they can go to donate blood more frequently than relying on one of our mobile drives,” said Sara Person, center communications specialist.

The center supplies blood to 72 area hospitals including Lawrence Memorial Hospital. LMH uses about 175 pints per month.

The first drive will be from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday at Lawrence Masonic Center, 1301 E. 25th St.

To make an appointment:

l Visit savealifenow.org and use the sponsor code lawrencemasonic.

l Contact Edie Hancock at 888-647-4040, ext. 1635, or ehancock@cbck.org.

This will create two fixed donation sites in Lawrence. The other site is LMH, and its drive will be on opposite months.

Its next drive is from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. May 14.