Blood Drive In Gloucester Township Dec. 20

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — A woman who experienced complications during childbirth will celebrate the holidays with her husband and three children due to 22 units of blood products she received through donations, according to the American Red Cross.

“I truly owe my life to blood donors,” Alison Wissen said in a release from the Red Cross on Monday. “Even the skilled hands of my surgeons could not have saved me without the blood.”

The Red Cross shared this story with potential donors as a reminder, as it said blood donations tend to dip during the holiday season. As a bonus, it will offer a long-sleeved Red Cross T-shirt to donors who give blood or platelets between Dec. 21, 2017, and Jan. 7, 2018, while supplies last.

Gloucester Township residents will have the opportunity to give blood on Dec. 20, 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., at the Gloucester Township Library, 15 S. Black Horse Pike in the Blackwood section of the township.

Potential donors can make an appointment to give blood by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Patch file photo