Prior Lake, Minn. – Local residents are invited to participate in a summer blood drive on Thursday, Aug. 10, hosted by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC). Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs a blood transfusion, and donors of all blood types are asked to help meet this substantial need. Donations will be accepted from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at Dakotah! Sport and Fitness, located at 2100 Trail of Dreams in Prior Lake.

To donate blood, individuals must meet the following criteria:

• Be at least 17 years old (or 16 years old with written parental consent)
• Weigh at least 110 pounds
• Have not made a whole blood donation in the past 56 days

To schedule an appointment, please call the SMSC Wellness Program at 952-233-2965 or visit mbc.org/idonate, click the “Schedule Now” button, and enter SMSC sponsor code 1637. Appointments are recommended, but walk-ins are also accepted.

Donors participate in a brief screening as part of the approval process, including a mini-physical and a health history questionnaire. The questionnaire can be completed on-site or in advance on the same date of the donation at mbc.org/idonate. The entire blood donation process takes approximately 45 minutes.

About the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community is a federally recognized, sovereign Indian tribe located southwest of Minneapolis/St. Paul. Following a Dakota tradition of generosity, the SMSC is one of the top philanthropists in Minnesota and is the largest contributor to Native American tribes and causes across the country. It is a strong community partner and a leader in protecting and restoring natural resources. The SMSC’s government, Gaming Enterprise, and various other enterprises are collectively the largest employer in Scott County.