Emergencies don’t take a holiday. The American Red Cross urgently needs blood donors to make an appointment now to give and help ensure patients can get the treatment they need at a moment’s notice.

Now is an important time to give blood. A seasonal decline in donations occurs from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, when donors get busy with family gatherings and travel. In addition, severe winter weather can cause blood drive cancellations and negatively affect the blood supply. Patients can’t afford for there to be a shortage of blood.

Give the gift of life – make an appointment to donate blood by downloading the free American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

As a special thank-you for helping meet the urgent need, those who come to give Dec. 20 through Jan. 6 will receive a long-sleeved Red Cross T-shirt while supplies last.

Area Red Cross Blood Drives

• Dec. 20, 2018, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Primrose Retirement Communities, 1701 22nd Ave. SW in Austin

• Dec. 21, 2018, from 1-6 p.m. at City Center, 138 Highway S in Blooming Prairie

• Jan. 4, 2019, from 1-7 p.m. at Grand Meadow Lutheran Church, 115 First St. NE n Grand Meadow

• Jan. 4, 2019, from 1-7 p.m. at the Community Center, 204 W. Main St. in LeRoy

• Jan. 10, 2019, from noon to 6 p.m. at Our Saviors Lutheran Church, 1600 W. Oakland Ave. in Austin