DECATUR — A blood drive will be held from 11 a.m., until 5 p.m., Dec. 17 at the Simmons Foods offices in Decatur, located at 250 North Main Street.

Every two seconds someone is in need of blood, but only 5 percent of the eligible U.S. population donates blood any given year, according to the Red Cross Web site, www.givelife2. org.

Blood is used for emergencies and for people who have surgeries, cancer, organ transplants, sickle cell anemia and other illnesses.

“A blood donation provides a true gift from the heart that can give someone another holiday season with loved ones,” says Erschelle Newsome, CEO,Greater Ozarks-AR Blood Region. “But blood is only available when generous donors roll up their sleeves. It truly may be the greatest gift someone receives this holiday season.”

To give blood one must be healthy, at least 17-years-old or 16-years-oldwith parental consent. They must weigh at least 110 pounds and not have donated whole blood in the last eight weeks. Students who donate at high school drives and donors younger than 19 years old must also meet height and weight requirements.

News, Pages 2 on 12/02/2009