A community blood drive is going on Thursday at St. Mary's Regional Blood Center, and each person who gives blood will also be supporting hungry kids in Grand Junction.

The Mesa County Medical Society Alliance is teaming up with Kids Aid.

The medical alliance plans on donating $20 to the Kids Aid Backpack Program for every person who donates blood.

Kids Aid is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing for the needs of children, including supplying food to hungry kids, according to program directors.

The Kids Aid Backpack Program collaborates with School District 51 to send food donations home with children who would otherwise go hungry over the weekend.

The event runs from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the St. Mary's Pavilion located at 750 Wellington Avenue ( Just east of 7th Street on Patterson Road).

The executive director for Kids Aid, Mike Berry, donated blood on Wednesday to get the event started. He's asking the community to show its support for two great causes on Thursday.

"Well, the medical alliance has been a good friend of Kids Aid for a few years now and it's just nice to keep that relationship going," said Berry.

"And, obviously you know, the more involvement we get from people and groups like the medical alliance here in the Grand Valley, the better Kids Aid can operate and the more financially secure we become," he added.

Blood drive coordinators ask that you eat a light breakfast and drink plenty of water before giving blood; they said it makes the process of donating blood much easier.

If you go to donate on Thursday and find that you're unable to give blood, the Mesa County Medical Society Alliance will still honor your efforts by donating $20 to the Backpack Program.

Coordinators set a goal of raising $800 for Kids Aid , and they're hoping you'll come out and support both agencies.