When Carolyn Chesta’s 2-year-old niece, Piper, was diagnosed with leukemia last summer, she wanted to find some way to help. As Piper received multiple blood transfusions during treatments, Chesta, who owns Snap Fitness in Algonquin, helped fill the banks through blood drives.

“Unfortunately, directly there’s not a whole lot we can do to help Piper, but this was a great way to give back and to replenish the blood bank,” Chesta said. 

Wednesday’s Snap Fitness blood drive not only benefitted those in need of blood, but it also aided the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Food Pantry. 

Chesta decided to collaborate with the food pantry to give people even more of an incentive to donate blood. 

Heartland Blood Center, the organization collecting the blood through its mobile coach, offered to give $250 to the food pantry if 50 people donated. Donors were asked to give a $5 to $10 monetary contribution to the bank if they could. In all, Chesta hoped the drive would collect $1,000 for the food pantry.

“We suggested a donation from each donor, but of course just showing up is helping raise money,” said Michelle Dodd with the Heartland Blood Center.

Though the drive came up short monetarily — $398 was collected overall, including the $250 from Heartland — the number of donors still made the event a success. Eighty-nine people showed up to donate, and eight were deferred. Overall, 81 pints of blood were collected, surpassing the goal of 70.

Carol Platt, food pantry board member, called the drive a “phenomenal success.” 

In addition to helping the food pantry and blood bank, donors enjoyed free sandwiches and T-shirts, compliments of Jersey Mike’s in Lake in the Hills, as well as an Oberweis Dairy ice cream certificate from Heartland. 

Each donor was entered to win two tickets to Saturday’s Jimmy Buffet concert, and winners will be picked later today.

The drive came at an optimal time for both Heartland and the food pantry. High school students are major blood contributors and blood supplies drop by 25 percent during the summer because school is out, Dodd said, adding that the blood supply across the nation is “so incredibly low.” 

Likewise, July is one of the worst months for food donations, Platt said. The food pantry is also in the middle of refurbishing its newly donated location. All the funds will go toward keeping the bank operational.

Whether donors came for the free food or the chance to help the community, Chesta said she hopes they will keep on contributing. 

“If you’re healthy, giving blood is a great thing you can do to share your good health with others.”