MM_080317

18 | August 3, 2017 | The Mokena Messenger life & arts
mokenamessenger.com
State Rep. Margo McDermed to host drive amid blood shortage
Megann Horstead
Freelance Reporter
Got blood?
State Rep. Margo Mc-
Dermed (R-Mokena) is
urging area residents to
consider making a donation
at the third annual blood
drive sponsored by she in
conjunction with Heartland
Blood Centers.
The event, which is to
be held from 3:30-7:30
p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 9, at
11032 W. Lincoln Highway,
intends to fill the gap in
need amid a reported blood
shortage in the area.
“It’s important especially
this summer,” McDermed
said. “It’s the shortest time
of year for blood. People
are distracted by summer
activities. People who
typically give blood are
not. We’re trying to fill
the gap.”
What’s more is, not everyone
who is interested in
donating blood can make a
contribution. A medical history
screening will be performed
on-site, McDermed
said.
Many factors are considered
when determining if
donors demonstrate good
basic health.
Disqualifiers for prospective
donors include the Zika
virus, certain chemotherapies
and antibiotics.
McDermed encourages
anyone who is interested
to choose to make a difference.
“It’s simple. The truck
will be parked by my office
right off Route 30,”
McDermed said. “There’s
a form to fill out. The
truck they have is amazingly
comfortable. There
are two to three nurses. It’s
easy, quick. They really
enjoy it.”
After making a donation,
those who contribute will
be provided a snack and a
drink.
The hope, McDermed
said, is donors will feel
compelled to give.
“I think it’s an important
service,” McDermed said.
Blood drive
11032 W. Lincoln
Highway in Frankfort
3:30-7:30 p.m. Aug. 9
For more information...
Call (815) 277-2079
Visit www. heartlandbc.
org
“There’s no goal. We’re
trying to grow the drive.
When you create something
like this, you want
to establish an expectation
where people give back.
This is my third year as a
State representative, and we
want to grow community
service opportunities in the
area.”
The cause is to be supported
by McDermed,
who currently serves on
the Healthcare Licenses
Committee in Springfield.
There, she works to promote
healthcare and all
parts of the healthcare
system.
McDermed said creating
awareness for the cause
is troubling and stressed
that she is ready to confront
the challenge that
awaits her.
“It’s a big challenge because
there’s always a gap
for blood donated in the
summer,” McDermed said.
“Blood banks do what they
can. I’m not sure why [blood
donations are] particularly
low this summer. We
want to be part of the overall
awareness for donating
blood.”
Prospective donors are
encouraged to schedule an
appointment, though dropins
are welcome.
McDermed said the impact
donors can hope to
have by donating blood is
huge.
“I think people really get
a lot out of our drive,” Mc-
Dermed said. “I do myself.
I’m not sure where your
blood goes. It could go to a
child, an adult, someone involved
in a life threatening
accident. You know you’re
making a difference. Your
donation affects more than
one person.”
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redemption
From Page 17
with, it’s gotta come from a
real place.”
As a born-again Christian,
Podowski said many
of the relationships he had
in his life changed “simply
because of the changes that
I made in my life,” which is
something that influenced
the writing and characters
in the film.
Griggs studied acting
at DePaul University, and
Sengenberger graduated
from Carnegie Mellon University
where she studied
dramaturgy, which is the
theory and practice of dramatic
composition.
The team held casting auditions
at Columbia College
Chicago last year before
filming began on Aug. 12,
2016. They continued filming
for five weeks and have
been in post-production —
a time-consuming process
of editing, sound and music
— ever since.
Now that post-production
is complete, the distribution
process has begun.
On Sept. 5, the film will
Mimi Sagadin, who plays Jenny Paine’s mother, Gwen,
records audio for the film. Photo Submitted
be available for purchase
through Amazon, as well as
streaming through Pure Flix
at www.pureflix.com and
hoopla at www.hoopladigi
tal.com.
“It’s been an amazing
experience. It’s been exhausting.
It’s been rewarding,”
Podowski said. “The
cast and the crew have just,
everyone’s been amazing
— from the way the
film was put together with
great people, in terms of
the financing and the cast
and the crew — it’s really
been a great experience all
around.”
In addition to getting everything
ready for the premiere,
Podowski, his wife
Becky and their two children,
Miles, 6, and Cora, 4, recently
moved to Mokena from
their home in Matteson.
In addition to his own
film, Podowski owns his
own video production company,
BP Video+, doing
mostly corporate work and
also works part-time for a
construction company doing
their marketing, social
media, graphic design and
video.
For more information
about “Redemption Way,”
along with tickets for the
premiere and how to see
the film, visit www.redem
tionwaymovie.com.