The American Red Cross encourages you to help meet the urgent need for blood and platelets by resolving to give blood this January – National Blood Donor Month. Donating blood or platelets is a way to make a lifesaving impact in the new year for patients such as those with end-stage autoimmune liver disease.  The critical role of blood and platelet donors has been celebrated each January for nearly 50 years during National Blood Donor Month, which coincides with one of the most difficult times to maintain a sufficient blood supply for patients. Busy holiday schedules, extreme winter weather and seasonal illnesses often impact donor turnout this time of year.

The Red Cross encourages eligible donors to resolve to give blood or platelets regularly this month. Make an appointment to donate blood or platelets by downloading the free American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Locally, some upcoming blood donation opportunities include:

• Orient 1/9/2019: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Orient-Macksburg High School, 201 School Street
• Atlantic 1/10/2019: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Atlantic YMCA, 1100 Maple Street
• Griswold 1/11/2019: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Griswold High School, 20 Madison
• Exira 1/28/2019: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Exira Recreational Center, 106 N Jefferson
• Lewis 1/31/2019: 12 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Lewis Community Center, 400 West MainStreet
• Red Oak: 1/19/2019: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Red Oak YMCA, 101 E Cherry St; 1/28/2019: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 1101 East Summit
• Clarinda 1/15/2019: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Westminster Presbyterian Church, 322 N 16th; 1/17/2019: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Clarinda Academy, 1820 North 16th Street
• Avoca 1/25/2019: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., AHSTW High School, 768 So. Maple
• Elk Horn 1/15/2019: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Elk Horn Lutheran Church, 4313 Main Street
• Harlan 1/22/2019: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Veteran’s Memorial Building, 1104 Morningview