Fox Valley Orthopedics to host blood drive Oct. 20

Throughout Illinois, there is an urgent need for blood. Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood, whether it be for an accident victim, a surgery patient or those affected by natural disasters. To ensure the Fox Valley area has an adequate blood supply, community residents are invited to participate in Versiti Blood Center of Illinois' Mobile Blood Drive on Wednesday, Oct. 20, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., in the mobile coach outside of Fox Valley Orthopedics' North Building, 2535 Soderquist Court in Geneva.

Walk-ins are welcome; registration encouraged. A non-expired photo identification will be needed at the time of the donation.

Panera Bread is donating a healthy to-go meal to all donors, and everyone who attempts to donate will be entered in a raffle drawing.

"The current blood shortage in the Chicagoland area is the worst we've seen in five years," said Fox Valley Orthopedics' CEO Barry Mathews. "COVID-19 has created the perfect storm, and donors are greatly needed."

Social distancing and other COVID safety measures will be in place during the blood drive. In accordance with the Illinois mandate, face masks will be necessary.

The blood drive is sponsored by Fox Valley Orthopedics and Fox Valley Orthopedics Physical Therapy. For more information or pre-registration, visit fvortho.com/blood-drive.

Fox Valley Orthopedics provides complete orthopedic care, including sports medicine, spine, total joints, hand and wrist, foot and ankle, pain management and rheumatology. All FVO surgeons are board certified or board eligible, and have received additional training in their specific area of expertise. FVO's Physical Therapy and Ambulatory Surgery provide cost-effective convenient care, as well as OrthoFirst - orthopedic urgent care. Fox Valley Orthopedics is a state-of-the-art, state-licensed facility, and is accredited by the AAAHC - Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care.