Chicagoland self-storage provider LifeStorage is hosting a Blood Drive and Merchant Day event at its Hermosa store at 4500 W. Grand Ave. in Chicago from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. tomorrow, March 10.

Partnering with LifeSource, Chicago's Blood Center, LifeStorage Hermosa managers Yecy Morquecho and Mario Alequin decided to combine the blood drive with Merchant Day, where business tenants will exhibit at the facility with posters, promotions. and merchandise.

Morquecho and Alequin hope people will stop by the LifeStorage facility, donate blood, peruse what the merchants have on display, and see what LifeStorage facilities offer. The managers have been promoting the combined event though word of mouth, fliers, e-mails and social media. They said the combination event serves three purposes: giving back to the community, helping existing tenants and attracting new business.

"We wanted to include Merchant Day because we have a few tenants that have small businesses and wanted to help them out and also generate new business," Morquecho said. "As for the blood donation, LifeSource is a great organization, and we can't overstate this enough: Donating blood really does make a difference. It really can save a life."

LifeStorage was founded in 2002 by owners Jean Jodoin and Christopher Barry. The operation currently has 17 locations in Chicago and its suburbs, with two more opening later this year.

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