Donate blood for free admission to the Siegel's Cottonwood Farm Pumpkin Fest
Summer has ended, temperatures will cool, leaves will change color and Siegel's Cottonwood Farm is celebrating fall with its annual Pumpkin Fest. In addition to providing fall fun, Siegel's is also in the business of saving lives partnering with Heartland Blood Centers by providing free admission to the Siegel's Cottonwood Farm Pumpkin Fest through the end of October when you donate blood at any of Heartland's 13 center locations or mobile blood drives.
As the largest blood center in the Chicagoland area, Heartland supplies blood to over 70+ hospitals in a 13 county area and relies on the generous donations of volunteer blood donors.
The Siegel family has a four-generation, 100-year history beginning in 1909 when Frank and Gertrude Siegel moved to the farm on Weber Road. There have been many changes over the years. Each fall tens of thousands of people come to the farm to enjoy the U-pick pumpkin field, corn mazes, attractions and food. Forming a partnership with Heartland Blood Centers was a natural choice for Siegel's given their personal connection to blood donation. In 2016 General Manager Kaity Siegel-Grimmengas' nephew Kaden and sister-in-law were both recipients of life-saving blood when Kaden arrived 3 months before his due date, weighing only 1 lb. and 12 oz. In addition to mom's need for blood, Kaden immediately needed a blood transfusion of O- red blood cells to help the flow of oxygen in his body. In the coming weeks after his premature birth, in order to stabilize his condition, Kaden would also receive a platelet transfusion. Kaity says, "The blood Kaden received saved him and I am thankful for the people who donated that blood. If it wasn't for them, I am not sure he would have made it."
As simple as it is to donate blood - it is just as simple to save a life of a premature infant, a cancer patient or someone facing major surgery. Save a life and enjoy "Affordable Family Fun on the Farm™" when Siegel's hosts blood drives for Heartland Blood Centers at the Farm on September 30th and October 1st. Each blood donor will receive FREE Pumpkin Fest admission and the hours of the drive on Saturday are 10 am - 4 pm and Sunday, 10 am - 2 pm. To schedule an appointment, please call 1-800-7TO-GIVE or visit our website at www.heartlandbc.org.
About Heartland Blood Centers - Heartland Blood Centers, established in 1943, is a nonprofit, independent blood center serving the Greater Chicago area. Providing service to 70+ hospitals in 13 counties including Kane, Kankakee, McHenry, DeKalb, Will, DuPage, Cook, Grundy, Kendall, Lee, Ogle and LaSalle in Illinois, and Lake County in Indiana. Heartland operates under a volunteer donor system with the goal of collecting more than 200,000 units of blood annually. Heartland's first commitment is to meet local blood needs and as participants in a nationwide resource sharing program, Heartland stands ready to assist other parts of the country during severe blood shortages, national emergencies and increased demands by the armed services. For more information about Heartland or how to donate blood, visit www.heartlandbc.org or call 1-800-7-TO-GIVE.
About Siegel's Cottonwood Farm - For more than 100 years and four generations, Siegel's Cottonwood Farm in Lockport, IL has been the place where memories are created. Not just by the Siegel family, but thousands across the region. Frank and Gertrude Siegel moved to this farm in 1909 to raise their family of seven children, who would establish the legacy of Siegel farming. Today, it is still a working farm run by Paul Siegel, third generation. As times changed and demand for the farm as a destination for family fun, corporate events, weddings and benefits grew, The Siegel's swapped livestock for Pumpkin Fest - kid-friendly attractions, their famous extra sweet sweet corn, Grandpa's secret recipe kettle corn - Statesville Haunted Prison, voted one of the scariest haunted houses in the country, a nationally-recognized corn maze and, now, one of the most desired wedding locations in Illinois, www.MyPumpkinFarm.com.