The Rock River Valley Blood Center (RRVBC), South Beloit Fire Department and South Beloit Police Department are hosting a holiday-themed Battle of the Badges Blood Drive on Tuesday, Dec. 20 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the South Beloit Fire Department, 429 Gardner St. Donors can make appointments online at rrvbc.org, by calling

815-965-8751 or using the myRRVBC app. Walk-ins also will be welcome.

There will be a host of exciting activities, giveaways and drawings for donors including:

  • Beloit Sky Carps mascot “Poopsie” will be in attendance from 5 p.m.-6 p.m. to greet and thank donors.
  • The first 75 donors will receive a Battle of the Badges t-shirt.
  • All donors will receive a free pint of custard from Culvers.
  • All donors will be entered into a drawing to win a free night stay at Ironworks Hotel in Beloit, a pair of movie tickets for Beloit Classic Cinemas, a flat screen TV, various gift cards, a Beloit Sky Carps donation basket and signed baseball.

“We are excited to partner with the South Beloit Fire and Police Departments to host the second annual Battle of the Badges blood drive,” said Lisa Entrikin, CEO at the Rock River Valley Blood Center. “We are thankful for the departments in helping us to support our local hospitals and those in need of blood. The holiday season is especially challenging for blood collection as people are traveling and have other plans, so we encourage community members to come out and help up stock our shelves and save lives.”

When you donate you will be asked to donate on behalf of the South Beloit Fire Department or South Beloit Police Department. The department with the most donors will win a trophy and bragging rights.

Donating blood is simple. After registering, a donor care specialist will take individual’s vitals (temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and hemoglobin), and each person must complete an eligibility questionnaire before they can sit back and relax while giving. The donation itself only lasts about 10 minutes. Refreshments await after donating.

First-time donors should bring a photo ID. Individuals can donate a single unit (whole blood donation, the most common type) every 56 days. Students can donate once they turn 16 years of age and must have a signed parental consent.

To schedule a donation, visit rrvbc.org, call 815-965-8751 or use the myRRVBC app.

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 Javon Bea Hospital-Rockton, Mercyhealth Javon Bea Hospital-Riverside, Mercyhealth Hospital and Medical Center–Harvard, Mercyhealth Hospital and Trauma Center-Janesville and Mercyhealth Hospital and Medical Center–Walworth, 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.

 

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