In Bolingbrook, Illinois, the WeLoveU Foundation hosted a significant blood drive on Sunday, drawing in volunteers eager to contribute to a worthy cause.

Blood donations are particularly vital during the winter months, a period when organizations often experience a decline in contributions.

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This event aims to make a difference during the holiday season. The Red Cross joined forces with the International WeLoveU Foundation in Bolingbrook to organize this life-saving initiative.

Their ambitious objective was to collect 300 units of blood at a time when donation numbers typically decrease.

“We’ve seen several blood drives canceled due to adverse weather, so we’re thrilled and grateful for the dedication of our volunteers,” stated Adam Bodrick, assistant coordinator of volunteering at the International WeLoveU Foundation. “Blood cannot be manufactured; it must be donated. During winter, many people choose to stay indoors because of the weather, leading to fewer donations. That’s why we’re emphasizing the urgent need for blood donations.”

Despite the chilly conditions, numerous individuals stepped forward Sunday morning, ready to donate and make a difference.

“Some of our volunteers have sickle disease so if you have sick disease, you definitely need a lot of blood,” Bodrick said. “So it’s really amazing because the people who are giving the blood at we love you volunteer foundation actually found out that they’re the ones that need it so it’s really amazing just to see that what their effort that they’re giving is actually coming back to them.”

It is also personal for Andrew Berryman, an account manager with the Red Cross, who says blood donations is the reason he is alive today.

“I went to get my tonsils taken out in 2012. I had an allergic reaction to the anesthesia. I had heart and lung failure,” Berryman said. “Doctors worked on me for 14 hours. Nothing worked. They pulled me into a machine called ECMO, which shuts off your heart and lungs takes her blood out of your body, oxygenates it and pumps it back in. I was on that for 52 hours until my femoral artery on my left leg tore. open. And when that happened, of course I needed blood.”

He hopes this inspires others to want to donate too.

“We can’t say thank you enough for people coming out here supporting,” Berryman said. “We love you being able to give to others and give their families more time together.”