Mosquitoes aren’t the only creatures at UCSB looking for fresh blood.

Phi Gamma Delta, Alpha Tau Omega, Kappa Alpha Theta and Alpha Phi are sponsoring a blood drive today from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in front of the Fiji house at 765 Embarcadero del Norte. All donations will go to the Tri-County Blood Bank. John Graass of Phi Gamma Delta said the event will be community oriented, not exclusively greek.

“This is our way of giving back to the community,” Graass said. “Personally, I’ve had relatives who have needed blood transfusions, so I wanted to participate in order to help out any way I can.”

Local fire, police and paramedic departments will also be present to show their support.

“We’re trying to get the whole community involved,” Courtney Gay of Kappa Alpha Theta said. “I think it’s a really great cause, especially with the war right now. We want people to understand that there is a need for blood all year round.”

Jessica Friedman of Alpha Phi said the event will be an all-day social affair.

“Even if people don’t want to donate, it will be pretty social,” Friedman said. “We’ll have cookies and juice, and local politicians are also coming out to show their support.”

Congresswoman Lois Capps, Santa Barbara Mayor Marty Blum, Goleta Mayor Jack Hawxhurst, Councilwoman Margaret Connell and Third District Executive Assistant Mark Chaconas are all scheduled to attend.

“Last year we coordinated a blood drive with only one other house,” Graass said. “This year I tried to make it bigger to get more people out there donating blood.”