Hermosa Beach residents can give back this summer by donating blood at a community-wide blood drive Sunday at the Kiwanis Club Hall on Valley Drive.
The local is hosting the event, sponsored by the American Red Cross, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Red Cross has reported that every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood due to a life-threatening illness, serious injury, or accident, according to the Kiwanis Club.
"Blood cannot be manufactured, it must come from generous donors and be used within approximately 42 days of collection so the need is constant," said Kiwanis Blood Drive Committee Chairman Mickey McRae in a statement last week. "Further, the gratification is instant."
At the Kiwanis Club’s last blood drive, about 30 units of blood were collected.
"Each whole blood unit saves up to three lives," said Beach Cities Red Cross Donor Resources Development spokesperson Alice Lan. "We encourage everyone who is eligible to sign up."
In order to give blood, donors must be 17 or older, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good general health, Lan said. The process of donating blood takes about 10 minutes and is done using a sterile needle for each donor.
All donors will receive a free box of chocolate covered fruit from Edible Arrangements, a coupon for complimentary admission for two to the Laugh Factory, and will be eligible to enter a regional Free Gas $500 gift card drawing.
To sign up for the blood drive, go to www.redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code: Hermosa Kiwanis
