Morrison, Palatine Township host blood drive May 9

State Rep. Tom Morrison will host a blood drive in partnership with Palatine Township and Vitalant from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 9, at Palatine Township's offices, 721 Quentin S. Road, in Palatine.

For the safety of volunteer donors and staff, donations will be by appointment only. To make an appointment, visit https://donateblood.lifesource.org/ and enter search code 517D.

Vitalant urges donors to complete the DonorPass questionnaire online the morning they donate to shorten the screening process.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Vitalant staff is taking extra cleaning and distancing precautions, beyond their already stringent requirements. All staff wear masks and gloves, and all donors must bring and wear a mask/face covering. A 6-foot distance between donors is kept throughout the process, and staff disinfects donor-touched areas between donors. Temperatures are taken at check-in, and no one is allowed to enter with a temperature of 99.6 or higher.

Due to the pandemic, blood drives across the state have been canceled, resulting in severe a blood shortage in Illinois.

"There's always a need for blood, and this event is one way that healthy residents can give back," said Morrison, a Republican from Palatine. "I know our community will come together to make this event a success."

For more information, contact Morrison's district office at (847) 202-6584.