Village hosts largest blood drive in its history

LOMBARD, Illinois— A total of 246 pints of blood was donated at the Village's largest blood drive ever, held September 14 at Yorktown Center and Village Hall.

“Just the blood donated at this drive will help almost 750 people,” said Carol Bauer, Village of Lombard Blood Drive Coordinator. “It is truly amazing,” she added.

The goal of the September blood drive was 211 and was surpassed for the first time in a long while. Most of the previous blood drives have not broken the 200 donor mark, Bauer said, but for some reason, not only did this one make the goal and break it, but it set a goal for the largest one in the Village's community blood drive history.

Since 1988, the Village has had a partnership with Heartland Blood Centers which has developed into four blood drives per year—January, April, July and September. For 2011, with the Village blood drives and those held on the same day at Yorktown Center, a total of seven drives were held, which yielded 708 units of blood. Blood drives in 2011 as a result of the Village's efforts will assist more than 2,000 people, as each unit of blood can be separated into three components, with each unit potentially helping three people.

Nearly 30,000 people have been assisted since the Village began hosting blood drives, according to Bauer. “The Village of Lombard and Heartland Blood Centers want to thank all of the donors, volunteers and staff who have donated blood or who have worked so diligently in an effort to reach out to more people,” Bauer said. “There is no

substitution for blood and the need for blood continues to rise each year,” she added.

There has been a renewed effort by the Village to recruit young blood donors with the “Red Honor Cord” program, where high school students who donate blood six times before graduation can become “donors for life” and indicate such with a special red cord to be worn at graduation. Donors must be 16-years-old to donate blood and all blood donors require a photo ID to donate blood.

The blood drive dates for 2012 are set for January 11, April 11, July 11 and September 12. Bauer is always looking for community organizations, groups, businesses and others to “jump on the band wagon” and help in promoting the blood drives wherever possible. To find out more, contact Bauer at (630) 620-5712 or Heartland Blood Centers at 1-800-7-TO-GIVE.