Blood Drive at Elkhart Christian Church on Thursday

[February 05, 2008]  SPRINGFIELD -- Because Valentine's Day provides people a chance to remember the people they love, Central Illinois Community Blood Center believes it's an appropriate time to remember to donate blood for your friends, neighbors and family. It’s the blood on the shelf that saves lives. Please don’t wait until someone you love needs blood. It takes 24-48 hours to process blood, and that might be too long for the person you love.

To help ensure an adequate blood supply for area hospitals, there will be a blood drive Thursday at Elkhart Christian Church, 113 S. Gillett in Elkhart. The hours of the blood drive are 2-6 p.m. For your convenience, please call Lucille Brewer to sign up at 947-2702 or schedule an appointment online at www.cicbc.org. Walk-ins are also welcome and truly appreciated.

The 2007-2008 Springfield Clinic High School Blood Challenge started May 12, 2007, and ends May 11, 2008. Donate blood at this drive and ask that your donation be credited to Mount Pulaski High School or a participating high school in your community. The high school that wins the challenge will receive a $1,000 college scholarship from Springfield Clinic to award to a graduating senior who plans on furthering his or her education.

Also, the CICBC donor room, located at 1134 S. Seventh St. in Springfield, is open to collect blood on Mondays and Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesdays and Thursdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon.

The Central Illinois Community Blood Center is a not-for-profit organization that provides blood to 19 area hospitals. Blood collected at these drives is intended for local hospitals. For more information about blood drives, blood facts and blood types, please visit www.cicbc.org. Please give what’s in your heart and donate blood.

[Text from file received from Central Illinois Community Blood Center]