River North Bar teams up with Versiti Blood Center of Illinois

Aurora, Ill. –As the city’s bars and restaurants remain in limbo, waiting for the day they can officially re-open, one River North establishment is finding a silver lining in their empty space. Boss Bar in River North has teamed by with Versiti Blood Center of Illinois to hold a community blood drive on Tuesday, June 2nd from 9:00am - 2:00pm. With hospitals beginning to resume normal operations, the need for blood is higher than ever. Boss Bar saw an opportunity to help by offering their currently vacant space to Versiti Blood Center to hold a blood drive.

While people are, understandably, hesitant to visit a medical facility to donate blood right now, they can feel at ease doing so at a completely safe and sanitized third party location. To maintain a safe environment during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the following rules will be strictly enforced:

• Face Masks Required: Donors are asked to bring their own masks, but Versiti will provide them for those who cannot.
• Temperature Check: All donors (and staff) must have their temperature taken BEFORE entering the building. Those with a higher than healthy temperature will not be permitted to donate.
• Social Distancing: Every aspect of the blood drive will be set up to allow for adequate social distancing.
• Increased Frequency of Deep Cleaning: All equipment, beds and communal surfaces will be thoroughly cleaned in between each donor.

Miki’s Park, a hot new Korean spot on Hubbard St. next door to Boss Bar, has hopped on board to provide those who generously give the gift of blood a little gift of their own. “Supporting the River North neighborhood and Chicago community as a whole has been important to us from day one,” says Miki’s Park co-founder Orville Diaz. “We are proud to partner with Versiti and Boss Bar on this life-saving initiative. We invite anyone who participates in the blood drive on June 2nd to stop by our walk-up window for a FREE order of our signature Omma’s Dumplings, plus a gift certificate for a FREE craft cocktail (to be used when The Side Bar at Miki’s Park officially opens.)

To schedule an appointment, call 1-800-7TO-GIVE (1-800-786-4483) or visit versiti.org/Illinois.

Donations of all blood types are needed, but especially type O negative blood, which is the universal blood type given to patients in emergency situations and those undergoing surgery. Anyone 17 or older who is in good health and meets eligibility requirements is encouraged to donate blood. Appointments are preferred, but walk-in donors are also welcome. Parental consent is required for 16-year-olds to donate. The entire process takes about an hour. Donors should bring a photo ID that includes their birth date.

About Versiti Blood Center of Illinois

Versiti Blood Center of Illinois is a not-for-profit organization headquartered in Aurora, IL, that specializes in blood products and services and provides expert medical and technical support. Founded in 1943, it is the oldest blood center in Illinois and serves patients at 71 hospitals in Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana. It operates 12 donor centers and conducts nearly 2,200 blood drives annually at area hospitals, churches, businesses, schools and community centers. To learn more, visit versiti.org###/a###.