DePaul University’s O’Hare Campus and LifeSource Blood Center will host a community blood drive from noon to 6:30 p.m. Jan. 29 at the O’Hare Campus, 3166 S. River Road in Des Plaines, Ill. Participants are encouraged to schedule an appointment, but walk-ins are welcome.

“Since only the human body can manufacture blood, donors are always needed to step forward and help out,” said Kevin Kirberg, assistant O’Hare Campus administrator. “During the winter months blood donations traditionally decline. People are busy, and many regular donors head south for the winter, yet the need for blood knows no season.” More than 1,500 daily donors are required to meet the needs of Chicago-area patients.

“It is possible for one donation to save up to three lives,” he said. “Blood donation will benefit heart patients, general surgery patients, burn and accident victims, leukemia and other cancer patients, and many others.”

Donors should be in good health (no flu or cold symptoms) and weigh at least 110 pounds. They should be at least 17 years of age, or 16 with written parental permission, and there is no upper age limit. “The one-hour, life-saving process is safe, quick, easy and very satisfying,” Kirberg said.

For additional information or to schedule an appointment, call 847/296-5348 or e-mail Mpoli@depaul.edu.

LifeSource Blood Services is a non-profit organization. As the largest blood center in Illinois LifeSource distributes each year more than 550,000 units of blood and blood products to 160 area hospitals and health care agencies and is the only full-service blood center to more than 50 hospitals—eight of which are Level I trauma centers.

DePaul is the largest Catholic University in the nation and the largest private university in Chicago. The university offers more than 130 graduate and undergraduate programs of study on eight Chicago-area campuses. The university’s mission emphasizes academic excellence, service to the community, access to education and respect for the individual.