Donate blood, earn free tickets with Prairie Pride Coalition Friday
BLOOMINGTON — Help save lives by giving blood at Prairie Pride Coalition’s (PPC) blood drive for Red Cross on Friday from 12 to 5 p.m. PPC, which has organized blood drives for several years, is part of a trend of LGBTQ organizations hosting more drives according to Red Cross. This change started after the FDA removed the last of AIDs-crisis era restrictions on gay and bisexual men donating in 2023 (ABC). Donors can get some free swag, and day-pass wristbands for entry into the country music festival Tailgate N’ Tallboys at the Interstate Center, 1106 Interstate Dr,. June 18-21. Join the blood drive at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington-Normal, 1613 E Emerson St.
Register for Peoria Proud LGBTQ+ Family Cookout Sunday
PEORIA —Celebrate queer families and enjoy summer food at Peoria Proud’s 12th Annual LGBTQ+ Family Cookout on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hamburgers and hot dogs will be provided, with vegan options available, too. Bring your own drinks, but no alcohol as this is a kid-friendly event. There will also be yard games, face painting, and information tables by community organizations and services. The cookout is at Glen Oak Park, 2218 N. Prospect Rd. Reserve your free ticket here; organizers need a headcount for food.
Help needy families by donating to United Way Bottom Line Diaper Bank
CHAMPAIGN — Help families who are financially struggling by donating diapers to the United Way of Champaign County (UWCC) as part of its diaper drive for the Bottom Line Diaper Bank. Families with babies are thought to spend $1,000 on diapers in the first year of a baby’s life. The United Way seeks to lessen that burden by donating an estimated 13,000 free diapers to needy families every month. You can drop off unopened diapers at this list of drop off locations Monday, or you can drop unopened packages of diapers Wednesday at the WCIA parking lot, 509 S. Neil St., Champaign.
