Heartland Blood Centers
Blood donors who donate this week with Heartland Blood Centers will automatically be entered in a raffle to win two preseason tickets to the Aug. 21 Chicago Bears vs. San Francisco 49ers game; a football laser signed and donated by the 2008 Chicago Bears team; or one of seven jerseys ordered with team and player of choice. Community members simply need to donate blood at one of the blood drives open to the public in your area or visit one of Heartland's 16 center locations for a chance to win. To schedule a blood donation appointment, call (800) 7-TO GIVE or visit www.heartlandbc.org to schedule your appointment online. If a blood drive in your area does not offer online scheduling, call the contact listed to make your appointment by phone.
In addition to the NFL raffle, blood donors will receive a coupon for a free quart of Oberweis Ice Cream. Depending on the location of the event, a different thank-you gift may be given to donors.
Heartland relies solely on volunteer donors to help us prevent blood shortages during the summer months when school breaks, busy schedules and summer vacations keep donors from giving as frequently.
"With the NFL preseason in August, we knew that raffling preseason tickets, a signed football and jerseys would be a great way to say thanks to our donors for taking just an hour of your day to donate during the summer," said Ann McKanna, Heartland's vice president of marketing and new business development. "We understand most community members donate simply for the feeling they get from saving lives with their blood donation, but having raffles for the blood donors makes it fun for the donors and our staff."
To maintain an adequate blood supply, Heartland Blood Centers, an independent blood center serving 33 hospitals in a 12-county region in Illinois and Indiana, urges all area residents to donate the "gift of life" and donate blood this August at local blood drives and Heartland Centers. Heartland must collect nearly 550 units each day to meet the transfusion demands of area hospitals.
To be a blood donor, individuals must be at least 17 years old or 16 with written parental permission; weigh at least 110 pounds; be symptom free of cold, flu and allergies; and be in general good health. Donors who have traveled outside the United States within the past 12 months should contact Heartland at (800) 7TO-GIVE to determine eligibility.
All community members are encouraged to attend the following local blood drives:
Batavia: Today from noon to 4:30 p.m. at Batavia City Hall, 100 N. Island Ave,; Each donor will receive a gift card for one free quart of Oberweis Ice Cream. To schedule an appointment, please call Stacy at (630) 454-2072. Walk-ins are welcome. Photo ID is required.
Carpentersville: Thursday from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at Dundee Township Park District, 665 Barrington Ave; call Ande at (847) 428-7131 to schedule your appointment. All donors will receive a gift card for a free quart of Oberweis.
Geneva: Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon at Heartland's Geneva Center, 649 W. State St.; Each donor will receive a gift card for one free quart of Oberweis Ice Cream and be entered in our NFL raffle. Please inform the front desk that you are donating towards the Knights of Columbus #2191 blood drive. To schedule an appointment, call Tony at (630) 262-3391. Walk-ins are welcome. Photo ID is required.
Geneva: Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon at United Methodist Church Of Geneva, 211 Hamilton Street fellowship hall; Nate Brand Eagle Project Community Blood Drive. Each donor will receive a gift card for one free quart of Oberweis Ice Cream and be entered in our NFL raffle. To schedule an appointment, call Nate at (630) 232-0802. Walk-ins are welcome. Photo ID is required.
North Aurora: Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Word & Worship Christian Church, 19 South Lincolnway.
Sycamore: Thursday from noon to 4 p.m. at DeKalb County Administration Building, 110 E. Sycamore St.