Donate blood Oct. 28 at Palatine Township

Or drop off food, toiletries for pantry

Submitted by Amy Shanks

State Rep. Tom Morrison (R-Palatine) is hosting a blood drive Wednesday, Oct. 28, in partnership with Palatine Township and Vitalant.

Donors are welcome by appointment only from 1:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Patriot Room at the Palatine Township, 721 Quentin S. Road. In addition, blood donors will receive a free COVID-19 antibody screening.

This will be the fourth blood drive Rep. Morrison has hosted since the spring. Throughout the year, Morrison has committed to helping address the statewide blood shortage as a result of COVID-19.

"While COVID-19 illnesses themselves do not require blood transfusions, the pandemic has resulted in the cancellation of hundreds of blood drives across the state, putting the state's blood supply in jeopardy," Morrison explained.

Donors who gave in August are eligible to donate again. "I would love to see some repeat donors, but I also want to encourage as many people as possible to consider donating," Morrison said. "Not enough people realize that it can help save up to three lives; it is easily the most impactful thing you could do with just an hour of your time."

Morrison also will be collecting donations for the Palatine Food Pantry.

"Even if you can't donate blood, your donations to the pantry will be gratefully accepted. I am always blown away by the generosity shown by our communities at events like this."

In addition to the usual food donation items, Palatine says there is a real need for laundry soap, dish soap, paper towels, Kleenex, toothpaste, deodorant, body wash, hand soap and diapers.

Interested blood donors can make an appointment to donate by visiting: Donateblood.lifesource.org and entering group search code 517D.

Anyone with questions, can contact Morrison's office at (847) 202-6584.

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