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CORVALLIS - The Pacific Northwest's largest blood drive of the season is set for May 20-22 at Oregon State University.

The three-day OSU Red Cross blood drive is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day and is open to the public. The donation site is OSU's Memorial Union Ballroom and no appointments are needed. For information, call 541-737-8566.

Oregon State University is the Red Cross' largest blood drive in the region and May marks the 55th anniversary of Red Cross blood service, said Douglas Tracy, Red Cross spokesman. The Red Cross started collecting blood in World War II to help save soldiers' lives on the battlefields. Red Cross efforts were credited with reducing the death rate of soldiers to half that of their World War I counterparts.

Tracy said the entire donation process takes about 45 minutes. To speed the process, he urges donors to time their arrival at 15 or 20 minutes before or after the hour, since a majority of student donors tend to arrive "on-the-hour," as classes finish for the day.

Anyone wishing to give blood, but unable to make the OSU event can call 541-928-2458 to locate other local Red Cross blood drives.