State’s Attorney Glasgow thanks downtown Joliet employees, visitors for making lifesaving donations at July 13 Blood Drive

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July 17

Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow talks with WCCQ’s Carol McGowan and urges people to come out to donate during a live broadcast from the Taylor Babec Community Blood Drive at the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office on July 13.


JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow thanked everyone who made a lifesaving donation during another successful Taylor Babec Community Blood Drive held July 13 at the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Heartland Blood Centers reported that the second Blood Drive at the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office surpassed all expectations for a summer drive with 103 people signing up to donate and 101 units collected.

This high turnout is critically important for the community because blood donations drop significantly during summer months due to vacations and summer closings of local high schools and colleges. Twenty five percent of Heartland’s blood supply comes from school drives. 

Jennifer Babec, the Joliet mom who is Heartland’s top volunteer organizer, once again worked with State’s Attorney Glasgow’s office to coordinate the summer drive. The first drive she coordinated with the office in March broke a record for Heartland with 154 people registering to donate and 139 units collected.  During blood drives, a small percentage of donors are typically deferred for various reasons.

Jennifer has been coordinating drives with Heartland since 2008, shortly after her 5-year-old daughter, Taylor, was diagnosed with lymphoma. During Taylor’s three-year recovery, she required intensive chemotherapy treatments and 22 blood transfusions that revived her physical energy and her spirits. Today, Taylor is a happy and healthy 10-year-old girl.

“When Jennifer and Heartland urged us to host a drive to replenish the local blood supply during the slow summer months, we were all too happy to help,” said State’s Attorney Glasgow. “We may be in the midst of a summer drought, but we can make certain the supply of blood and blood products will not dry up at our local hospitals. The combined efforts of everyone who coordinated this drive and everyone who donated definitely will save lives right here in Will County.”  

Glasgow specifically thanked the secretaries, support staff and attorneys from the State’s Attorney’s Office for their donations as well as their patience and cooperation during the Blood Drive, which closed off the office parking lot and created a great deal of extra traffic in the office lobby.

Country Station 98.3 WCCQ’s Carol McGowan broadcast live from the Blood Drive in the morning, and throughout the day Heartland volunteers served delicious pulled pork sandwiches courtesy of Baby Back Blues BBQ of Plainfield. In addition, every donor received a gift card for a free quart of Oberweis Dairy ice cream and a deluxe barbecue set from Heartland.