The American Red Cross encourages eligible donors to give blood to help ensure a sufficient blood supply throughout the holiday season.
A seasonal decline in donations often occurs from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day when donors get busy with family gatherings and travel. However, patients don’t get a holiday vacation from needing lifesaving transfusions. In fact, every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood.
Lorie Alwes remembers her father being called often to give blood – even on holidays. He had type O negative blood, the universal blood type. “One time it was in the middle of Thanksgiving dinner and off he went without hesitation,” she recalls. “He explained to us kids that his blood was used in emergency situations and could possibly save another life.”
Years later, Alwes learned that she also has type O negative blood. She has since donated whenever needed and has encouraged her 17-year-old son to carry on the lifesaving family tradition that was so important to his grandfather.
Donors with all blood types are needed, and especially those with types O negative, B negative, A negative and AB. All those who come to donate Nov. 25-29 will get a Red Cross mixing spoon and celebrity chef recipe set, while supplies last.
To make an appointment to donate blood, people can download the Red Cross Blood Donor App from app stores, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Upcoming blood donation opportunities:
Nov. 16, 1:30-6:30 p.m., Fayetteville Christian Church, 114 Hickory Road, Fayetteville
Nov. 16, 2:30-6:30 p.m., First Baptist Church, 106 West Taylor St., Griffin
Nov. 17, 2-6 p.m., University of Georgia Griffin Campus, 1109 Experiment St., Griffin
Nov. 20, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Summit YMCA, 1765 Highway 34 East, Newnan
Nov. 20, 2-7 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 2021 Redwine Road, Fayetteville
Nov. 21, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Trinity Baptist Church, 122 Franklin Highway, Newnan
Nov. 23, 7 a.m.-7 p.m., Cobb Blood Donation Center, 2145 Roswell Road Suite 250, Marietta
Nov. 23, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Kroger, 48 Bullsboro Drive, Newnan
Nov. 24, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Glenloch Recreation Complex, 601 Stevens Entry, Peachtree City
Download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
