Upcoming blood drives

The Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center has announced the following upcoming blood drives:

Tuesday, Jan. 22, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.: West Liberty Foods, MVRBC donor bus, 2225 E. Commerce Drive, Mt. Pleasant. Donors who last gave blood on or before Nov. 27 are eligible to donate. To make an appointment, contact Jean Spiesz at 319-385-5950 or visit www.bloodcenterimpact.org.

Thrusday, Jan. 24, 2 to 5 p.m.: Veyance Tech. Inc. cafeteria, 400 N. Goodyear Road, Mt. Pleasant. Donors who last gave blood on or before Nov. 29 are eligible to donate. To make an appointment, contact Sarah Donnolly at 319-385-6907 or visit www.bloodcenterimpact.org.

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.

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 81 hospitals.

A list of area hospitals can be found at http://www.bloodcenter.org/about-us/service-hospitals.aspx.