The drive will be on Tuesday, Sept. 3, from 10 a.m to 6 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom.The Student Government Association and the Central Kentucky Blood Center are sponsoring the drive.
CKBC's supply typically plunges each year during the late summer months and falls even more after Labor Day weekend because large numbers of people travel and do not donate.
Demand also increases because more people get injured in car accidents with an increase in holiday travel.
The annual UK drive helps alleviate this problem.
"It is the most crucial time to give blood," said Chrissy Guyer, SGA vice president.
One pint of blood can help save the lives of up to three different patients.
Red cells can be used for open heart surgery patients, plasma for trauma patients and platelets for cancer and leukemia patients.
Guyer said she is optimistic about this year's turnout.
One hundred people already have signed up in advance to give blood.
Last year's drive was highly successful, drawing more than 200 donors for a total of 168 pints of blood, said Glen White, CKBC donor resources consultant.
"This drive surprises us every year," White said.
Everyone who shows up at the drive will receive a coupon for a free Steak-Out cheeseburger and chips.
All donors will receive a CKBC T-shirt.
As an added benefit, CKBC performs a mini-physical on each donor to check pulse rate, temperature, blood pressure, and for hematocrit.
To give blood, donors must be 17 years of age or older, weigh a minimum of 100 pounds and be in general good health.
A donor may be deferred temporarily or permanently if there is a condition that prevents him or her from giving blood.
Donors must bring some form of identification with their social security number. Student IDs are acceptable.
Students who donate Tuesday will still be able to give blood during the Big Blue Crush, an annual blood drive in which UK and the University of Tennessee compete to donate the most blood in the week leading up to the UK-UT football game.
CKBC allows donors to give blood once every 56 days.
The Big Blue Crush isn't until late November.