(December 4, 2017) — The best gifts can’t be bought in a store. The American Red Cross urges eligible donors to give more life by giving blood this December.

In December, donations decline but the needs of patients remain steady. During the holiday season, set aside an hour to give the most important gift – give blood and give more life. To encourage donations, all those who come to give blood or platelets Dec. 21, 2017, through Jan. 7, 2018, will receive a long-sleeved Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last.

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).

Upcoming blood donation opportunities Dec. 16-31

NC

Beaufort

Washington

12/18/2017: 3 p.m. – 7 p.m., The Blind Center, 219 N. Harvey Street

12/18/2017: 3 p.m. – 7 p.m., Woodard’s Pond Church of Christ, 8962 US Hwy 264 East

12/26/2017: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Washington Waterfront, 301 Stewart Parkway

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Carteret

Emerald Isle

12/15/2017: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Emerald Isle Community Center, 7506 Emerald Drive

Morehead City

12/29/2017: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Carteret Health Care, 3500 Arendell St., PO Box 1619

12/31/2017: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Lowes Home Improvement, 5219 Highway 70 West

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Craven

Havelock

12/21/2017: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., White’s ATA Martial Arts, 130 E. Main Street

New Bern

12/15/2017: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Community Center, 585 Broad Creek Road

12/17/2017: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., #9 Township Fire Department, 3783 Nc Highway 55 W

12/20/2017: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Carolina Colours, 3300 Waterscape Way

12/20/2017: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Broad Creek Christian Church, 45 Olympia Rd

12/21/2017: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., New Bern Mall, 3134 Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard

12/21/2017: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., New Bern Fire Department, 1401 Neuse Blvd., PO Box 1129

12/22/2017: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., CarolinaEast Health System, 2000 Neuse Boulevard

12/22/2017: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Township 6 Fire Department, 109 Carolina Pines Blvd

12/26/2017: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., The DoubleTree by Hilton, 100 Middle Street

12/30/2017: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., New Bern Mall, 3134 Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd

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Duplin

Chinquapin

12/26/2017: 3 p.m. – 7 p.m., Sharon Baptist Church, 2775 Hwy 41 S. and Hwy 50

Kenansville

12/28/2017: 12:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Vidant Duplin Hospital, 401 North Main Street

Magnolia

12/29/2017: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Magnolia Baptist Church, 208 E Main Street

Wallace

12/21/2017: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., American Legion at Wallace Post 156, 529 East Southerland Street

12/26/2017: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Pin Hook Church, 1650 Deep Bottom Road

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Greene

Snow Hill

12/29/2017: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Greene County Recreation Department, 468 US 13

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Lenoir

Kinston

12/19/2017: 12:30 p.m. – 5 p.m., Kinston Public Service Complex, 2360 Hwy 258 South

12/21/2017: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Kinston/Lenoir County Parks & Recreation – Fairfield Center, 2602 W. Vernon Avenue

12/27/2017: 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Lenoir Memorial Hospital, Airport Road

12/28/2017: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 800 Roundtree Street

12/31/2017: 12 p.m. – 3 p.m., Bethel Free will Baptist Church, 1936 Banks School Rd.

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Onslow

Jacksonville

12/22/2017: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Onslow Memorial Hospital/Education Building, 317 Western Boulevard

12/23/2017: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Lowes, 425 Yopp Road

12/26/2017: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Jacksonville Mall – Mobile, 375 Western Blvd

12/29/2017: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., Navy Federal Credit Union-Western Blvd, 1171 Western Blvd

Swansboro

12/18/2017: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Swansboro Municipal Park, 830 Main Street Ext.

12/20/2017: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Piggly Wiggly, 715 W. Corbett Ave

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Pamlico

Oriental

12/22/2017: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Oriental United Methodist, 404 Freemason Street

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Pitt

Greenville

12/16/2017: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Eastern North Carolina Blood Donor Center, 700 Cromwell Drive

12/19/2017: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Eastern North Carolina Blood Donor Center, 700 Cromwell Drive

12/23/2017: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., St. Peter’s Church of Christ Disciples, 2866 Seven Pines Road

12/26/2017: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Eastern North Carolina Blood Donor Center, 700 Cromwell Drive

12/28/2017: 6:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Vidant Medical Center, 2100 Stantonsburg Road

Grifton

12/20/2017: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Grifton Volunteer Fire Department, 6881 South Highland Ave

Winterville

12/24/2017: 12 p.m. – 3 p.m., Winterville Fire/Rescue Building, 2593 Railroad Street

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 in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), 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.Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass^® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, from a computer or mobile device. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.

Volunteers needed

Another way to support the lifesaving mission of the American Red Cross is to become a volunteer transportation specialist and deliver lifesaving blood products to local area hospitals. Volunteer transportation specialists play a very important role in ensuring an ample blood supply for patients in need by transporting blood and blood products. For more information and to apply for a volunteer transportation specialist position, or visit rdcrss.org/driver.

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.