A Mother Lode Community blood drive will be held on Thursday, October 4 from 11 a.m. –  6 p.m. at the Jackson Civic Center, 33 Broadway, Jackson. Blood Source, a not-for-profit community blood bank is holding the blood drive to meet the community’s need for blood and blood products. Thanks to the generosity of local donors when you receive care at a hospital in our region, the blood you receive comes from BloodSource blood donors. Sutter Amador Hospital receives its blood from BloodSource. Giving blood is easy, safe and takes less than one hour, but only about 5 percent of the estimated 60 percent of eligible Americans donate blood. To give blood, you must be in generally good health, free from cold symptoms for at least 48 hours; be at least 17 years old (16 years old with parental consent); and weigh at least 110 pounds.  There is no upper age limit for donating blood. Prospective donors must bring a photo ID. All walk-ins are welcome.  Sutter Amador Hospital is sponsoring the blood drive.