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OTTUMWA, IOWA -- Seeing as January is National Blood Donor Month, what better New Year's resolution to make than to save three lives with just one donation of blood?

Thursday marked the 13th annual media blood drive, held at the Bridge View Center all day long. The Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center set a goal of 110 pints of blood to be collected and distributed to patients and hospitals.

This time of year is especially critical to collect donations, as levels are low after the holidays.

"This blood drive comes at a special time of year, donation rates drop during the holidays - people had Christmas parties, lots of shopping to do and other things going on, so our inventory levels are low now," said Ashleigh Richmond, donor relations consultant at Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center. "So we're asking people to come and donate, if they're not going to donate any other time during the year, this will have a big impact and make sure that hospitals and patients have the blood products that they need."

If you were not able to make the blood drive Thursday, the blood center in Ottumwa is open from 1 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays and from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. on Fridays.

For more information on where and how to donate, visit Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center's website.