The American Red Cross is once again encouraging eligible donors to give blood. The organization says between Thanksgiving and Christmas; more than 1 million units of blood could be transfused in the United States.
Ronnika McFall is with Red Cross Communications. She says despite the constant need; busy holiday schedules make it difficult for the agency to collect enough blood to meet that need.
“Every two seconds someone in the United States needs blood and the American Red Cross must collect more than 13,000 donations every day to maintain it,” McFall said. “It’s the blood products on the shelves that have saved lives when emergencies occur. Donated blood can take up to three days to be tested, processed and made available for patients.”
Donors of all types, especially type O, are urgently needed. In an effort to show appreciation for those who donate blood or platelets between now and December 18, the Red Cross is giving donors a $5 Amazon Gift Card. McFall says the process is made easier since the organization offers several methods of signing up to donate.
“All eligible individuals are urged to make an appointment to give now by using the [Red Cross] Blood Donor App, you can visit RedCrossBlood.org, you can call 1-800-Red Cross which is 1-800-733-2767, or you can enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.”
Upcoming blood donation opportunities:
Clarke
Athens
12/2/2019: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Athens Blood Donation Center, Clark Crossing Shopping Ctr
Clarke
Athens
12/3/2019: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Athens Blood Donation Center, Clark Crossing Shopping Ctr
Clarke
Athens
12/4/2019: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m., University of Georgia Police Department, 286 Oconee St., Suite 100
12/4/2019: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Stegeman Coliseum, Stegeman Coliseum, 100 Smith Street
12/4/2019: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Athens Blood Donation Center, Clark Crossing Shopping Ctr
12/4/2019: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., University of Georgia BioChemistry Graduate Students Association, 120 East Green Street
Madison
Hull
12/4/2019: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Jackson EMC, 85 Spratlin Mill Rd.
Clarke
Athens
12/5/2019: 8:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m., Athens Blood Donation Center, Clark Crossing Shopping Ctr
12/5/2019: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Athens Christian School, 1270 Hwy 29 North
12/5/2019: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Synovus Bank, 150 W. Hancock Avenue
12/6/2019: 8:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m., Athens Blood Donation Center, Clark Crossing Shopping Ctr
Clarke
Athens
12/7/2019: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Athens Blood Donation Center, Clark Crossing Shopping Ctr
12/8/2019: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Athens Blood Donation Center, Clark Crossing Shopping Ctr
Barrow
Bethlehem
12/9/2019: 2:30 p.m. - 7 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 709 Christmas Avenue
Clarke
Athens
12/9/2019: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Athens Blood Donation Center, Clark Crossing Shopping Ctr
Clarke
Athens
12/10/2019: 12:30 p.m. - 6 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 327 North Lumpkin Street
12/10/2019: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Athens Blood Donation Center, Clark Crossing Shopping Ctr
Oconee
Watkinsville
12/10/2019: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Watkinsville First United Methodist Church, 1331 New High Shoals Road
Clarke
Athens
12/11/2019: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Clarke Central High School, 350 S. Milledge Avenue
12/11/2019: 9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m., University of Georgia FMD Support Services Warehouse Chicopee Bldg # 3, FMD Grounds Department, 2215 Riverbend Rd
12/11/2019: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Athens Blood Donation Center, Clark Crossing Shopping Ctr
Jackson
Jefferson
12/11/2019: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Fire Training Center, 100 Fowler Drive
Clarke
Athens
12/12/2019: 8:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m., Athens Blood Donation Center, Clark Crossing Shopping Ctr
12/12/2019: 1 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Eaton, 695 Indian Hills Drive
Winterville
12/12/2019: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Nakanishi Manufacturing Corporation, 1225 Voyles Road
Clarke
Athens
12/13/2019: 8:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m., Athens Blood Donation Center, Clark Crossing Shopping Ctr
Clarke
Athens
12/14/2019: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Athens Blood Donation Center, Clark Crossing Shopping Ctr
12/15/2019: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Athens Blood Donation Center, Clark Crossing Shopping Ctr
12/16/2019: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Athens Blood Donation Center, Clark Crossing Shopping Ctr
Oglethorpe
Lexington
12/16/2019: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Lexington Baptist Church Family Ministry Center, 103 West Church Street
Clarke
Athens
12/17/2019: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Athens Blood Donation Center, Clark Crossing Shopping Ctr
Clarke
Athens
12/18/2019: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Cofer's, 1145 Mitchell Bridge Rd.
12/18/2019: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Athens Blood Donation Center, Clark Crossing Shopping Ctr
Jackson
Hoschton
12/18/2019: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., The Meeting House, 5615 Grand Reunion Drive
