The Homer Community is stepping up to help address a critical national blood shortage by hosting a community blood drive on September 18, from 2:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Homer United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, located at 301 S. Main Street.

The timing of this blood drive comes as the nation faces its lowest number of blood donors in 20 years, with blood centers across the country experiencing unprecedented shortages. According to recent data, someone in the United States needs blood every two seconds, and a single blood donation can save up to three lives. Despite this critical need, only 3% of age-eligible individuals in the U.S. give blood each year.

ImpactLife, the nonprofit community blood center organizing the drive, serves more than 130 hospitals and emergency medical service providers across Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin. The organization relies on more than 200,000 volunteer blood donations annually to support patients throughout the Midwest. 

Blood donation is described as a safe, simple procedure that takes about 45 minutes to one hour. To be eligible, potential donors must be at least 17 years of age (or 16 with parental permission), weigh more than 110 pounds, and bring a photo ID. Individuals with diabetes or controlled high blood pressure may still be accepted as eligible donors.

Donors who last gave blood on or before July 24, 2025, are eligible to participate in this drive. The donation process includes a mini-physical that checks cholesterol, iron level, temperature, and blood pressure.

To encourage participation, ImpactLife is offering all successful donors their choice of rewards: a $20 e-gift card (to retailers like Target, Amazon, or Subway), a $20 donation to their favorite charity, or bonus points for the ImpactLife Rewards Store.