Great Chicago Blood Drive yields nearly 700 donations

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Nearly 700 people donated blood as part the Great Chicago Blood Drive, a joint effort between ABC7 and the American Red Cross.

Hundreds of people came to Union Station and the Drake Oak Brook Hotel Wednesday to give their time and to donate blood. Donors came from all over the Chicago area to help save lives.

The American Red Cross expects this drive to stock the blood banks at a number of area hospitals.

"It's chilled, it goes to a testing facility to make sure that the blood is safe, and within a day it will be on the shelves and ready for use in hospitals," said Martha Carlos, American Red Cross.

"Giving blood is one of the most important things we can do, when folks are injured, blood is often the difference between life and death," Rauner said.

In Oak Brook, Robyn Deren was marking her 13th donation. She brought her little ones with her in hopes of showing them the importance of giving blood.

"I might need blood one day so it's good to know that I can help other people and if I need it, I'll get blood in return," Deren said.

The American Red Cross provides about 40 percent of the nation's blood supply.

Every 2 seconds there someone is in need of a blood transfusion. And with the amount we collected Wednesday, nearly 2,000 people can be helped.