Washington County isn’t just where our employees work—it’s where they live, grow, and raise families, too. It’s also where they give back. Prairie State is proud of all the ways in which our employees contribute to the community. It’s a true testament to their commitment to making this a better, more prosperous place to live.

Blood Drives

In 2015, an all-volunteer group of employees who believed we can and should invest in the community created a blood drive committee. Since then, Prairie State’s blood drive committee has hosted multiple blood drives each year, collecting thousands of pints of blood and saving thousands of lives. Our employees recognize that blood donations have the opportunity to improve the outlook for healthcare self-sufficiency in southern Illinois, and the sheer importance of saving the lives of local people.

Prairie State’s blood drive committee partners with the American Red Cross and has been recognized with service awards for their dedication to saving lives.  Below are yearly statistics on blood collection at Prairie State.

2015: 295 units collected (885 lives saved)

2016: 396 units collected (1,188 lives saved)

2017: 360 units collected (1,080 lives saved)

2018: 371 units collected (1,113 lives saved)

2019: 312 units collected (936 lives saved)

2020: 244 units collected (732 lives saved)

2021: 209 units collected (627 lives saved)

2022: 183 units collected (549 lives saved)

2023: 164 units collected (492 lives saved)

Toy and Food Drives

Our most popular employee initiatives are the toy and food drives held every December and February since 2008. Organized by employees, this drive collects thousands of dollars and truckloads of toys and food for area not-for-profits.

The following entities have received assistance from Prairie State’s Toy and Food Drives:

  • Village of Fayetteville
  • Marissa Elementary School
  • Sparta – Lincoln Middle School
  • Sparta – Primary School
  • St. Libory Elementary School
  • Okawville Grade School
  • Perandoe Educational Program
  • The Okawville CHOW Program (Combating Hunger on Weekends)
  • Coulterville Elementary School
  • BCMW Community Services
  • Tilden Presbyterian Church
  • Marissa Food Pantry