Local lacrosse club to host blood drive April 16

The McHenry County Department of Health's Veterinary Public Division in Crystal Lake will host a blood drive from noon until 4:30 p.m. Monday, April 16.

Heartland Blood Centers will facilitate the drive which also benefits the Crystal Lake Central Lacrosse Club. Central Tigers Lacrosse team members will be in attendance.

The Veterinary Public Health Division's Animal Control & Adoption Center is at 100 N. Virginia St., Crystal Lake.

Schedule your appointment online at www.heartlandbc.org - click "donate now" and "find a nearby blood drive".

Walk-ins are welcome and participants will receive a $5 coupon for Nancy's Pizza. Based in Aurora, Heartland Blood Centers serves 63 hospitals in a 12-county area throughout the Chicago area and Northwest Indiana.

Blood donation is a lifesaver. Because there is no artificial substitute for human blood, someone needs donated human blood every two seconds in the United States, and even one donation can help save the lives of up to three people.

Donating blood is a safe process. A sterile needle is used only once for each donor and is then discarded.

Donating blood costs you nothing except a little time. But the benefits for your health and your community are priceless. For more information call Kara Plonczynski, McHenry County Veterinary Public Health Division, at (815) 459-4946 or visit www.mcdh.info.