Give Life...Give Blood.

The LEAPS Committee, in conjunction with the American Red Cross, presents the "Gotta Have Heart Blood Drive" on Monday, March 18, 2013, from 2:00-7:00 p.m. You must be at least 16 years old (with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in good health to participate. This event is open to the public.

Sign up to donate blood on Saturday, March 9 between 9:00-10:45 a.m. For more information, contact Carole A. Jones at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Blood Donation Facts (from the American Red Cross)

Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood.

More than 44,000 blood donations are needed every day.

A total of 30 million blood components are transfused each year in the U.S. (2006)

The average red blood cell transfusion is approximately three pints.

The blood type most often requested by hospitals is Type O.

The blood used in an emergency is already on the shelves before the event occurs.

Sickle cell disease affects more than 80,000 people in the U.S; 98 percent of them are African American. Sickle cell patients can require frequent blood transfusions throughout their lives.

More than one million new people are diagnosed with cancer each year. Many of them will need blood, sometimes daily, during their chemotherapy treatments.

A single accident victim can require as many as 100 pints of blood.