UPCOMING BLOOD DRIVES

The following are upcoming local Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center (MVRBC) blood drives:

- The Henry County Health Center will host a community blood drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday Dec. 21, at 407 S. White St., inside Heath Education Center, in Mt. Pleasant. To donate, contact the Blood Center at (800) 747-5401 ext. 1281 or visit www.bloodcenterimpact.org and use code 1851 to locate the drive.

Potential donors must be at least 17 years of age (16 with parental permission form available through www.bloodcenter.org) and weigh more than 110 pounds. A photo I.D. or MVRBC Donor Card is required to donate. For questions about eligibility, please call the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center at (800)747-5401. Donors who last gave blood on or before Oct. 26, 2015, are eligible to give at this drive.

Blood donation is a safe, simple procedure that takes about 45 minutes to one hour. Individuals with diabetes or controlled high blood pressure may be accepted as eligible donors.

Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center is the provider of blood and blood components to more than 90 hospitals in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin. In your area, MVRBC is the exclusive provider to Great River Health Systems, Henry County Health Center.