According to Canadian Blood Services, someone in Canada needs blood almost every minute of every day.

To help fill this need, the U of G Campus Community Police is co-sponsoring a weeklong blood donation event for Canadian Blood Services March 17-24. The event will wrap up with a blood donor clinic in Peter Clark Hall March 24 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“We have a large community here on campus and this is an opportunity to really help others,” says Jordan Witkowski, a campus police dispatcher. “Each unit of blood that is given can be divided into three parts, so you could save three lives with one donation. The need for more blood is constant — one of these portions of blood only has a shelf life of four days.”

To encourage students to participate, the Campus Community Police are challenging residences over the week to see which can get the most students to donate blood. Students from residence sections across campus have formed teams, and the group with the highest percentage of students making a donation will be the winner. There will be prizes, including a pizza party for the winning team.

Staff and faculty are also encouraged to donate blood at the March 24 clinic or by going to the Canadian Blood Services main Guelph location at 130 Silvercreek Parkway to make a contribution. To make an appointment, contact Canadian Blood Services at 1-888-2-DONATE (1-888-236-6283) or visit www.blood.ca.

“The four of us have all committed to donate and it will be the first time for each of us,” says Witkowski of his colleagues in Campus Community Police Platoon D.

U of G Fire Prevention, Student Housing Services, the Wellness Centre, the University of Guelph First Response Team and Canadian Blood Services are also sponsoring the event.