Give a Pint of Blood Between March 11-17 Get a Limited-Edition St. Patrick's Day T-shirt

This year's limited-edition Vitalant (formerly LifeSource) T-shirt offers two different designs but one very important message: your blood donation saves lives.

Chicagoans who donate at any Vitalant donation center or blood drive from March 11-17 will receive a specially-designed green St. Patrick's Day "Give a Pint" T-Shirt. Messaging on the front celebrates you as a proud blood donor, and on the back, a friendly hedgehog from Vitalant's Save the Humans campaign reminds us: 'Take it from me-needles are no big deal.'

To find a donation center or blood drive nearest you or to schedule an appointment, visit vitalant.org or call (877) 258-4825. In preparation for their donation, donors are asked to eat well, stay hydrated and arrive with proper identification. The donation appointment takes about an hour (with the donation itself only around 10 minutes) and is both safe and comfortable.

At least 400 donations are needed each day to meet the needs of people throughout the Chicagoland area. It's the blood already on the shelf that helps in an emergency. That's why it's crucial for Vitalant to maintain a safe and ready supply at all times. It takes about 24 to 36 hours to process, test and distribute each blood donation before it is delivered to hospitals.

About Vitalant

Vitalant is the nation's second largest community blood service provider, supplying comprehensive transfusion medicine services for nearly 1,000 hospitals and health care partners for patients in need across 40 states. In the Chicago area, Vitalant (formerly LifeSource) has 17 donation centers, three fixed sites, and hosts an average of six blood drives every day. View all donation locations by visiting vitalant.org or call 877-258-4825. Follow Vitalant-Illinois on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.