ROCHELLE — A $500 check was presented Wednesday to Brent Olinger, winner of a drawing for Rochelle residents who donated blood at Rock River Valley Blood Center. The contest, organized by Mayor John Bearrows to boost donations during a shortage, was tied to the city’s Fly-In Drive-In event, where participants who gave blood within a two-week window were entered. Olinger, a longtime donor, said the call from the mayor was a surprise and noted the importance of giving blood after facing health issues himself. Blood Center CEO Lisa Entrikin thanked the city and community for their strong support.
“We have so many drives in this area and we don’t have a site here, but we’re able to come down with our buses and our mobile units, and the amount of blood that we collect in this community is amazing and we’re just so grateful for your support.”