Kiwanis Club Blood Drive Calls for Donors

The has organized a communitywide blood drive to take place Sunday, and needs your help.

Organizers have encouraged locals to volunteer to donate blood during the event, which is sponsored by the American Red Cross.

"Blood cannot be manufactured, it must come from generous donors and be used within approximately 42 days of collection so the need is constant," said Kiwanis Blood Drive Committee Chairman Mickey McRae in a statement. "Further, the gratification is instant."

Every two seconds someone in the country needs blood due to a life-threatening illness, injury, or accident, according to statistics from the Red Cross, McRae said, and more than 38,000 blood transfusions are needed every day.

The upcoming Hermosa Beach blood drive is the sixth partnership between the Kiwanis Club and Red Cross.

"At the last one we collected 17 units of blood and may have saved 51 lives. Each whole blood unit saves up to three lives," said Beach Cities Red Cross Donor Resources Development spokesperson Alice Lan in a statement. "We encourage everyone who is eligible to sign up."

To give blood, volunteers must be 17 years or older, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good general health.

Donors will receive a voucher for two tickets to a Los Angeles Galaxy game and will also be eligible to enter into a regional Disneyland annual passes drawing, according to the Kiwanis Club, which added that Sherri Douglas of The foundation for Wellness Professionals will provide free massages.

The blood drive will take place at the Kiwanis Club Hall on Valley Drive.