Give Thanks By Giving Blood Through The Red Cross This Holiday Season

The American Red Cross asks eligible donors to give something that means something this holiday season – a lifesaving blood donation.

Blood donations often decline this time of year when donors get busy with holiday festivities and travel. Severe winter weather and seasonal illnesses, like the flu, can also have a serious impact on blood donations, but the need for blood remains steady.

On average, the Red Cross must collect 15,000 blood products every day for patients across the country.

Eligible donors with all types are needed, especially those with O negative, A negative and B negative.

To learn more about donating blood and to schedule an appointment, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Upcoming blood donation opportunities:

11/20/2014: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Contra Costa Regional Med Ctr, 2500 Alhambra Ave Martinez

11/19/2014: 11:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Ln. Pleasant Hill

11/20/2014: 11:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Ln. Pleasant Hill

11/21/2014: 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Ln. Pleasant Hill

11/22/2014: 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Ln. Pleasant Hill

11/22/2014: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., SAFEWAY PLEASANT HILL, 1978 Contra Costa Blvd. Pleasant Hill

11/24/2014: 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Ln. Pleasant Hill

11/24/2014: 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m., Richmond Memorial Auditorium, 403 Civic Center Plaza Richmond

11/24/2014: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., TOWN OF DISCOVERY BAY, 1601 Discovery Bay Blvd Discovery Bay

11/25/2014: 11:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Ln. Pleasant Hill

11/26/2014: 2:30 p.m. - 7 p.m., PINOLE COMMUNITY, 2500 Charles Ave. Pinole

11/26/2014: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Ln. Pleasant Hill

11/28/2014: 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Ln. Pleasant Hill

11/29/2014: 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Ln. Pleasant Hill

12/1/2014: 12:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Church of Christ, 1020 East Tregallas Rd. Antioch

12/1/2014: 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Ln. Pleasant Hill

12/2/2014: 11:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Ln. Pleasant Hill

12/3/2014: 11:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Ln. Pleasant Hill

12/4/2014: 11:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Ln. Pleasant Hill

12/4/2014: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., City of El Cerrito, 7007 Moeser Ln. El Cerrito

12/5/2014: 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Ln. Pleasant Hill

12/6/2014: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Diamond Hills Sports Club & Spa, 1510 Neroly Rd Oakley

12/6/2014: 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Ln. Pleasant Hill

12/8/2014: 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Ln. Pleasant Hill

12/9/2014: 11:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Ln. Pleasant Hill

12/10/2014: 11:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Ln. Pleasant Hill

12/11/2014: 11:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Ln. Pleasant Hill

12/12/2014: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., The Grange Hall, 743 Diablo Rd. Danville

12/12/2014: 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Ln. Pleasant Hill

12/13/2014: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., St.s of Brentwood, 2565 Sand Creek Rd. Brentwood

12/13/2014: 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Ln. Pleasant Hill

12/15/2014: 7 a.m. - 1 p.m., John Muir Brentwood, 2400 Balfour Rd. Brentwood

12/15/2014: 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Ln. Pleasant Hill

How to donate blood

Simply 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.