St. Cornelius is hosting a blood drive and bake sale Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 5205 North Lieb Avenue to benefit Jessica Colucci, a sixth grader who was diagnosed with leukemia in April. View Full Caption Facebook

JEFFERSON PARK — As 12-year-old Jessica Colucci battles leukemia, friends and family from her Northwest Side parish are finding ways to help her in the fight.

This Saturday, St. Cornelius is hosting a blood drive and bake sale with the proceeds going to Jessica's family.

The sixth grader was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in April and has been receiving chemotherapy treatment and regular blood transfusions.

Friends and family are holding a blood drive to help Jessica and other sick children. All A-positive blood will be donated to Jessica, and all other blood types will be donated to Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital, said Katherine Divita, an organizer and St. Cornelius parent.

"It might not help Jessica...but you'll be able to save someone's life or help someone along a very tough journey," Divita said.

Divita said Jessica will also need a bone marrow transplant in the future, and donors on Saturday can get screened to join a bone marrow registry through a mouth swab.

In addition to the blood drive, which will run from 9 a.m. through 3 p.m., parents and students will also host a craft and bake sale. The crafts will include items like pins, pony-tail holders and marigold pots, among others.

Half of the proceeds from the sale will go to the Colucci family, and the other half will go to the nonprofit that registers bone marrow donors, Divita said.

Blood donors must be at least 16 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health. All donors will get a free cholesterol screening, blood pressure reading, iron level screening and find out their blood type.

More details about Saturday's drive can be found here.