Give the Gift of Life This Holiday Season on December 28

Give the Gift of Life Blood Drive with the American Red Cross on December 28, 2023.

Thursday, December 28, 2023
The Chateau Hotel (1621 Jumer Dr. in Bloomington)
Holiday Inn and Suites (101 Holiday St. in East Peoria)
11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Give the gift of life this holiday season with the American Red Cross’ Annual Holiday Blood Drive.

Join the American Red Cross, and help ensure that all blood needs are met. This contribution will help save hundreds of lives and touch countless others.

The Gift of Life Holiday Blood Drive is Thursday, December 28, 2023 at The Chateau Hotel in Bloomington and at the Holiday Inn and Suites in East Peoria. Stop by between the hours of 11:00am-5:30pm and donate a unit of lifesaving blood to the American Red Cross.

Stay warm this winter with an exclusive Red Cross long-sleeved t-shirt when you donate blood at the Gift of Life Blood Drive! (while supplies last)

To schedule an appointment, call 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767), or visit www.redcrossblood.org

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…