Blood drives offered

PORTER COUNTY | The American Red Cross offers blood drives in the area.

Donors will be entered into a regionwide drawing this month to win the following package: Two VIP tickets to the NCAA Sweet 16 and Elite 8 Midwest Regional games March 29 and 31 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. VIP tickets include early admission to the stadium, food, drink tickets and the chance to meet an NCAA legend, a deluxe corner room at the new J.W. Marriott in Indianapolis for two nights, March 29 and 30, and a $250 Visa gift card to be used for other expenses such as meals, gas, parking and souvenirs.

Area blood drives:

• 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 13 at Ivy Tech Community College, 3100 Ivy Tech Drive , Valparaiso. Come to donate and be entered into a drawing for a $25 shopping spree. Donors will receive a coupon for one free taco courtesy of Taco Bell.

• 2:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 21 at Memorial Elementary School in the cafeteria, 1052 Park Ave., Valparaiso. Donate at this Pint Size Heroes blood drive and receive a coupon for one free taco courtesy of Taco Bell.

• 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at the YMCA of Portage, 3100 Willowcreek Road. Email egonzalez@comhs.org to schedule blood donation appointment.

• 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Feb. 24 at Family Video, 2502 Calumet Ave., Valparaiso. Donate and receive a coupon good for one pint of Culver’s Frozen Custard courtesy of Culver’s. Call (219) 464-4142 to schedule appointment. This blood drive is co-sponsored by Brown Tire, Little Caesars and Anthony’s Salon.

• 9 to 11:30 a.m. Feb. 24 at Real Life Community Church, 3134 Swanson Road, Portage.

• 3 to 7 p.m. Feb. 26 at Taco Bell, 1808 Calumet Ave., Valparaiso. Donate and receive a coupon for one free taco courtesy of Taco Bell.

• 2 to 7 p.m. Feb. 27 at First Christian Church in the Fellowship Hall, 1507 Glendale Blvd., Valparaiso.

Also, the Merrillville Donor Center, 791 E. 83rd Ave., is open from 12:30 to 5 p.m. every Monday and from 8 a.m. until noon the first and third Saturdays of each month.