A donation of blood is a gift of one’s self to another human being they will likely never meet.
On April 5, St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church will join forces with Moms Demand Action, an advocacy group that seeks to end gun violence, and Versiti Blood Center of Illinois, to hold a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the church, 545 S. East Ave., Oak Park.
Blood transfusions are especially crucial for victims of gun violence as well as patients with sickle cell disease. According to the American Red Cross, every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood and or platelets. Consider these facts:
• Approximately 29,000 units of red blood cells are needed every day in the U.S.
• Gunshot victims require 10 times more blood units than people seriously injured by non-gun assaults.
• A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 units of blood.
• Sickle cell disease affects 90,000 to 100,000 people in the U.S. About 1,000 babies are born with this disease each year. Sickle cell patients can require blood transfusions throughout their lives.
You never know when you might need a blood transfusion. So join us, register to give blood today. Go to https://donateblood.versiti.org and search by zip code 60304 to register for the St. Christopher’s Church/Moms Demand Action Blood Drive on April 5.
Jenna Leving Jacobson
President, Moms Demand Action
Rev. George Arceneaux IV
Rector, St. Christopher’s Church