ABC 7 and American Red Cross team up for Great Chicago Blood Drive

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Snowy Winter weather and seasonal illnesses creates a greater need for life-saving blood.

So ABC 7 and the American Red Cross are joining forces for the Great Chicago Blood Drive on January 20, 2016 at Union Station and the Drake Oak Brook Hotel. This special event blood drive comes at a crucial time of year for hospital patients in need. While winter weather can cancel blood drives or keep donors from donating, the need for blood never takes a break.

Blood collected on Jan. 20 will help ensure cancer patients, trauma victims, surgery patients and others have the blood products they need. Donors of all blood types are needed on Jan. 20, particularly O negative, A negative and B negative. You can make an appointment to donate blood online at http://www.redcrossblood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Dr. A. Kyle Mack from the Lurie Children's Hospital, sat down with ABC 7 to talk about upcoming blood drive, and the great need in the Chicago area.

The ABC7 Great Chicago Blood Drive

Date: Jan. 20 at Union Station in Chicago and the Drake in Oak Brook

Hours: Jan. 20 from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. at Union Station - Great Hall, 500 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago

Jan. 20 from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. at The Drake Oak Brook Hotel, 2301 York Road, Oak Brook.

LINKS:

Simply download the American Red Cross http://www.redcross.org/mobile-apps/blood-app, visit http://www.redcrossblood.org/ or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767)