ROCKFORD, Ill. (Aug. 13, 2020) – The Rock River Valley Blood Center (RRVBC) will offer special giveaways and incentives for Rockford Day this Saturday, Aug. 15, to help promote the ongoing need for blood donations in the community.

The drives will take place at both Rockford Donor Centers from 7 to 11 a.m. at 419 N. Sixth St. and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 3065 N. Perryville Road. A radio remote with 97ZOK runs from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Sixth Street location.

All donors will receive:

  • A Beefaroo coupon for a free cheddar fry.
  • A bag of Mrs. Fisher’s potato chips.
  • A McDonald’s slushie coupon (while supplies last).

All donors will be entered to win:

  • A Velvet Robot gift basket with two bags of coffee beans, T-shirt and $10 gift card.
  • A Mrs. Fisher’s gift basket with large bags of BBQ, French Onion, Dark, Jalapeno, and Original Chips; two bags of movie theater popcorn; and one bag of cheesy caramel corn.

“We’re excited to be part of the Rockford Day celebration and thank our partners for donating some fun giveaways and prizes for our donors to help encourage them to give,” said Heidi Ognibene, the blood center’s director of operations. “Donating blood helps save local lives, so donating on Rockford Day is a great way to honor and give back to our community.”

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect the local blood supply. More than 140 blood drives have been cancelled since spring because many schools and businesses closed, resulting in a loss of more than 3,500 units of blood.

Schedule an appointment by calling 815-965-8751, at rrvbc.org or through the myRRVBC app. Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins will be welcomed as long as staff can adhere to social distancing guidelines.

If you’re a first-time donor, please bring a photo ID. Donors must be in general good health and weigh at least 110 pounds. Remember to eat a meal and drink plenty of fluids before your donation.

About Rock River Valley Blood Center
The Rock River Valley Blood Center is your community blood center and is the only provider of blood products and services to Mercyhealth’s Javon Bea Hospital-Rockton, Mercyhealth’s Javon Bea Hospital-Riverside, OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center, SwedishAmerican Hospital, SwedishAmerican Regional Cancer Center, SwedishAmerican Medical Center-Belvidere, Beloit Health System, Edgerton Hospital and Health Services, FHN-Freeport and Rochelle Community Hospital. The center has four convenient donor centers in Rockford, Belvidere and Freeport and the ability to support up to three mobile drives a day. The Rock River Valley Blood Center ensures that the right blood type is available at the right time for local patients whose lives may depend on it. Patients and their families rely on individuals to provide life-giving red blood cells, plasma, and platelets through blood donation.