Red Cross urges donations during "Giving" season

The need for blood doesn’t stop for holidays. Donations of all blood types are needed to ensure hospital shelves remain stocked to meet patient blood needs.

Make your appointment to give blood, platelets or plasma with the Red Cross by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.

Those who come to donate with the Red Cross December 18-January 4 will receive a long-sleeved Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last.

As COVID-19 hospitalizations increase, hospital demand for convalescent plasma has also grown.

The Red Cross is testing blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies. The test may indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to this coronavirus, regardless of whether an individual developed COVID-19 symptoms. Red Cross antibody tests will be helpful to identify individuals who have COVID-19 antibodies and may now help current coronavirus patients in need of convalescent plasma transfusions. To protect the health and safety of Red Cross staff and donors, it is important that individuals who do not feel well or believe they may be ill with COVID-19 postpone donation.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities are:

Clifton Church of Christ, 313 Main St. Clifton, December 21, 8:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

First United Methodist Church, 212 Waterloo St. December 21, 12:30 - 5:30 p.m.

First United Methodist Church, 212 Waterloo St. December 28, 1 - 6 p.m.

Hohenwald Church of Christ, 110 Park Avenue S., December 29, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Leoma Baptist Church, 6 Dunn Leoma Road, January 4, 2021, 2 - 6 p.m.

Perry County Community Developmental Center, 113 Factory St., December 22, 1:30 - 5:30 p.m.