MT. VERNON, IL — Crossroads Community Hospital will host a community blood drive with the American Red Cross on October 7 from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM at Crossroads Community Hospital.

For more information or to make an appointment to donate, call 1-800-RED CROSS or sign up online at redcrossblood.org.

“Crossroads Community Hospital is committed to helping the American Red Cross host community blood drives,” said Patrick Keyser, Director of Marketing. “This blood drive is our way of giving our team and community an opportunity to help save lives.”

Blood is a perishable product that can only come from volunteer blood donors. With someone in the U.S. needing blood every two seconds, blood products must be constantly replenished, according to the Red Cross.

“Knowing your blood donation could potentially save up to three lives is an incredible feeling of giving. It’s also surprising to learn that every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood or platelets,” says Keyser. “Over the past year, blood drives at Crossroads Community Hospital have collected 164 units of blood – potentially saving up to 492 lives. We could not do this without the community’s support. We hope you will consider making an appointment at any of the upcoming blood drives in the area.”

According to the Red Cross, donors with all blood types are needed, especially those with types O negative, A negative and B negative. For more information or to make an appointment to donate, call 1-800-RED CROSS or sign up online at redcrossblood.org.