Once again, the Farmville Police Department and the Farmville Fire Department will team up with the American Red Cross on Friday, March 30 for the Eighth Annual “Heartland Heroes Blood Drive.”

As in years past, each donor will be asked to donate blood in honor of one of the departments. The department generating the most donations will be awarded the “Heartland Heroes Blood Drive” trophy to house for the year. This trophy is provided by the American Red Cross. Last year, the two departments combined recruitment effort gathered 55 units of blood.

Those 55 units of blood have the potential to save 165 lives.

According to the American Red Cross, someone in the U.S. needs blood every two seconds. Blood cannot be manufactured, it must come from a donor, which is why donating is so crucial. A single donation can help save the life of up to three people and the human body quickly replaces the donated blood.

The Farmville Fire Department and Farmville Police Department will host the March 30 drive at the John’s Memorial Parish House on High Street. The event will run from noon until 6 p.m. Department members will be on site cooking hamburgers and hot dogs while recruiting additional donors.

Join us on Friday at the Johns Memorial Parish House at the corner of High Street and St. George Street to donate blood in honor of the “Heartland Heroes.”