Give the Gift of Life This Christmas with a Blood or Platelet Donation

And as part of your holiday charitable giving this year, you might want to consider giving blood, plasma, or blood platelets.

The Blood Connection bloodmobile will be in Lavonia today at the Train Depot from 3p to 8p.

Everyone who donates will receive a $20 gift card.

Face coverings are required and all donors will be pre-screened for COVID symptoms.

Allie Van Dyke, The Blood Connection media coordinator said recently that there continues to be a critical need for blood and platelet donations.

If you cannot give blood today, you can always make an appointment to donate blood or blood platelets through the Red Cross.

Red Cross Bloodmobiles will be in our area this week and next week.

The Red Cross Blood Mobile will be at St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital in Lavonia tomorrow, Wednesday, December 2 from 11a – 4p.

Then on Thursday, December 10, they will be at Lavonia First Baptist Church from noon until 5p.

And if you have had COVID-19 and recovered you might want to consider giving blood to help someone who is currently hospitalized with the virus.

All Red Cross blood donations are being tested for COVID-19 antibodies.

Blood donations that test positive for COVID-19 antibodies could provide convalescent plasma for critically ill coronavirus patients.

Additionally, this year Suburban Propane and Martina McBride have teamed with the Red Cross to encourage people across the country to give comfort and joy this holiday season by scheduling an appointment to give blood.

Those who roll up a sleeve around the holidays and come to give blood, platelets or plasma between Nov. 15-Dec. 15, 2020, will automatically be entered for a chance to win an Outdoor Living Experience that includes a propane powered pizza oven, fire pit, outdoor heater and a monetary stipend towards the purchase of propane.

To make an appointment to give blood throught the Red Cross you can go online to RedCrossblood.org and key in your zip code.

Then click on the location where you plan to give to schedule your appointment.