Donate blood, take a chance at winning gas card
Looking for some free gasoline for your car?
You can get a chance at free gas cards and other goodies from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at West Aurora High School at the school's third annual Aurora Gift of Life Blood Drive. The school is at 1201 W. New York St. in Aurora.
Becky Jo Tabone, West High's purchasing coordinator, is in charge of the summer blood drive to benefit Heartland Blood Centers.
Heartland supplies blood to 33 hospitals in Illinois and Northwest Indiana and is the sole provider of blood products to area hospitals including Aurora's Rush-Copley Medical Center and Provena Mercy Center and Delnor-Community Hospital in Geneva.
"We hope to bring in 200 blood donors at the West High drive. Every blood type is needed," said Jill Bernard, Heartland's director of mobile recruitment.
"We are struggling with O-negative this summer. We are below capacity and it is always in need," Bernard added.
Blood donors must be 17 or older, weigh at least 110 pounds and be free of cold or flu symptoms and be in general good health, Bernard said. Parental permission is necessary for 16-year-olds, and everyone needs to present a photo ID for blood donations.
Tabone said all donors will receive gift cards for a free quart of Oberweis ice cream and goody bags with Subway coupons and cookies.
Donors will be eligible for the blood drive's raffle drawing. Vendors have supplied gift cards for $500, $400, $300, $200 and three $100 worth of gasoline, Tabone said.
North Aurora dentist Dr. Sara Carroll is offering teeth whitening worth $650 and The Soxman and Windy City Limousine are teaming up to offer a trip to the Aug. 7 White Sox game against the Detroit Tigers, including a ride to and from the game. Tabone said that the Chicago Premium Outlet is also supplying gift certificates for the raffle.
Radio station WSPY FM 107.1 will also be broadcasting from the event.
"Once you understand the benefit and hear stories of how blood helps people you really want to help," Tabone said.
Tabone will contact raffle winners immediately after the drawing this afternoon. Contact her at (630) 301-5028 for more information.