The annual Carter Bloodcare blood drive is taking place Friday in the gym from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. with the goal of more than 200 pints of blood being donated.

“Every time a person donates blood it saves three people’s lives,” health teacher Stephen Friar said.

Students are encouraged to participate in the blood drive in some way so that they will understand the affect they can have on lives when they donate blood or their time to the cause.

“The importance of having students donate blood is that the life they save may be their own,” Friar said. “Let’s say they get in an accident if anything happens then you have a more chance of living when you have more potential matches. They are more adamant on giving blood when they could potentially be in that situation.”