Join in blood drive, food drive July 28 in Glen Ellyn
State Rep. Terra Costa Howard, D-Glen Ellyn, is asking residents to stop by Ackerman Sports & Fitness Center on Tuesday, July 28, for a combination food drive and blood drive hosted by the Glen Ellyn Park District and Versiti Blood Center of Illinois.
“With fewer scheduled blood drives due to the COVID-19 pandemic, blood centers across the country are struggling with blood supply shortages,” Costa Howard said. “At the same time, donations to our local food pantries have dropped, while demand has soared. So we are asking everyone who is able to donate blood or food to come in, help our neighbors, and replenish these crucial emergency resources.”
The food and blood drive will be held from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28, at the Ackerman Sports & Fitness Center, 800 St. Charles Road in Glen Ellyn.
Food drive donors are asked to bring canned items, nonperishables, pastas, and pasta sauces, which will be distributed to the Glen Ellyn Food Bank and Milton Township Food Pantry.
Those interested in donating blood should pre-register for a time slot online at donate.illinois.versiti.org/donor/schedules/city.
“Versiti takes all of the necessary safety and sanitation precautions to ensure safety for donors and staff, so no one is put at risk during the blood donation process,” said Costa Howard. “I am encouraging our healthy residents to donate blood to Versiti – and if you can, bring along some food items to help out families in our community that are struggling financially.”
The food drive is sponsored by Glen Ellyn Park District, state Rep. Terra Costa Howard and Central DuPage Kiwanis.
On the day of the event, please follow directional signs for curbside drop-off.
Urgently needed items include: toilet paper, paper towels, canned fruit, cooking oil, brown or white rice, dried beans, canned SpaghettiOs or ravioli, canned chicken or tuna, crackers, oatmeal, spaghetti sauce, and boxed pasta. For details, visit miltontownship.net/foodpantry or www.glenellynfoodpantry.org/.