The NIU chapter of the Greek honor society Order of Omega wants to suck your blood … and donate it to Heartland Blood Centers.

Heartland set up a blood donation center in Neptune Central Hall Thursday while Order of Omega members helped students fill out the necessary paperwork.

Donors were given a free pair of boxer shorts and complimentary snacks and juice. Donors also qualify for an hour of community service, said Order of Omega member and senior biology major Brett Martin, who hosted the table at the event.

Nina Menolascino, an Omega member with O-negative blood, the most widely sought-after type due to the fact no recipient will reject it, is no stranger to needles.

“I think [blood donation] should be more encouraged among college students,” Menolascino said. “There’s always a blood shortage.”

Freshman biology major Amanda Conway donated blood for the first time at the event.

“You should at least try it once,” Conway said. “You get free food, you can never beat that.”

This is the second year Order of Omega has organized a blood drive, Martin said.

Order of Omega members agreed on the blood drive as a way to perform a service for the community, said Heather Otto, Omega member and senior communication and journalism major.

“It makes me feel good to know I can contribute,” Otto said.

Heartland phlebotomists were working toward a goal of 30 donors, though only a few donations had been made as of press time, said Heartland senior phlebotomist Irma Montemayer, who worked the donation center.

Montemayer said many student donations are rejected due to things like traveling to countries with a malaria risk, having piercings and having low iron. Montemayer said summer is a season that sees the need for many blood transfusions, so the need for donation is also higher.

“We use a lot of [blood] in the summer season,” Montemayer said. “In the summer you have a lot of injuries, so a lot of blood is needed.”

Montemayer recommends people who want to donate blood eat foods with protein and iron. Women, who are more likely to have lower iron, should eat raisins, Montemayer said, and everybody should have a good breakfast prior to donating.

“Your body tends to react after that blood is taken out of you,” Montemayer said.

Blood samples donated to Heartland are taken directly to an Aurora facility where they are screened and separated into plasma and platelets and then redistributed, Montemayer said.