The Saint Mary Mokena Knights of Columbus will sponsor a community blood drive at the parish on the morning of Sunday, October 6th to benefit hospitals in the Chicago-land area. All healthy individuals are welcome and encouraged to donate their blood from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm.
Versiti Blood Center of Illinois will conduct the blood drive. To schedule a time to donate blood on that day, call 815-464-7242 or sign up online at donate.illinois.versiti.org. Sign-ups will also be available after all Masses on September 28-29 in the church narthex. The blood will be sent to Silver Cross, Palos Community, and St. Joseph’s hospital, among others.
“According to the AABB, at any given time 38 percent of the United States population is eligible to give blood, and of that percentage only 10 percent give,” says Cliff Peloquin, pro-life director for the St. Mary Mokena Knights of Columbus. “That’s why there is such a need.”
In order to donate blood, you must meet the following criteria, which are in place to protect both the donor and recipient:
- Be in good health and feeling well (don’t donate if you have a cold, flu, or other illness)
- Be at least 17 years-old (16 with parental consent)
- Weigh 110 pounds or more
- A minimum 8-week break is required between regular blood donations
- Individuals on medications or who recently traveled to other parts of the world may not qualify as a precaution against foreign diseases.
“This Knights of Columbus-sponsored blood drive will give each of us who has received, or had a friend or loved one receive, the precious gift of blood a chance to give back,” says Peloquin.
A photo ID is required to donate blood. Experts recommend eating something within four hours prior to donating blood. For more information, contact Cliff Peloquin at cdpeloquin@att.net
The Mokena Marian 