Blood Drive at Lincoln Masonic Lodge on Monday

[February 29, 2008]  SPRINGFIELD -- Your help is vital to protecting your community's blood supplies for cancer patients, burn victims, accident patients and others facing surgeries. Chances are that you or someone special to you will need a blood transfusion during your lifetime. The blood supply is totally dependent upon volunteers who will take a few minutes to roll up their sleeve and donate blood.

To help ensure an adequate blood supply for area hospitals, there will be a blood drive at the Lincoln Masonic Lodge, 2022 N. Kickapoo in Lincoln, on Monday from noon to 6 p.m. For your convenience, please call Tara to sign up toll-free at 1-866-GIVE-BLD (1-866-448-3253), ext. 56, 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 Lincoln Community 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.

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.

If you are healthy, please do your part by donating blood. It takes only an hour to donate, but the benefits last a lifetime for someone. Blood has a shelf life of only 42 days. Fortunately it is a renewable resource, but it depends on people who care.

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.

For more information about blood drives, blood facts and blood types, visit www.cicbc.org. Please give what's in your heart and donate blood.

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