The Village of Park Forest is partnering with the American Red Cross to host its biannual blood drive at Park Forest Village Hall on Thursday, Oct. 17.

The event will run from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. in the board room on the main level of Village Hall. Assistant Director of Recreation, Parks & Community Health Margaret Lewis said the need for blood is constant, but only 3% of the nation's population currently donates yearly. She said she wants the community to participate in this year's drive to help make a difference.

"Blood donation is vital to global healthcare and can save millions of lives each year," Lewis said. "There's a great demand for blood transfusions, and they are necessary for patients who have had surgery, trauma, or chronic illnesses, and are also used to treat cancer. This is why it's so important for people to participate in blood donations."

Residents can schedule an appointment online by going to the American Red Cross website. Lewis said once you're there, type Park Forest's zip code, 60466, in the box next to "make an appointment," and follow the instructions. She said if anyone needs help making an appointment, they can call her at 708-283-5663. 

While donating blood can cause minor side effects, Lewis said it’s an extremely helpful act that can do a lot of good. 

“In the United States, someone needs blood every two seconds,” Lewis said. “The most sought-after blood donors are individuals with Type O blood because they are considered universal donors. Their blood can be matched with any of the four blood types: A, B, AB, and O.”

Lewis said more than 38,000 blood donations are needed every day, and she noted that it is critical for people to participate. If you'd like to donate at the Park Forest Blood Drive and schedule your appointment, click here.