American Red Cross in need of donors as holiday season sees drop off in blood donations
HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — The excitement surrounding the holiday season is continuing to ramp up but officials with the American Red Cross say that this particular time of year is when their donations start to slow down. Leaders like Jonathan McNamara with the American Red Cross in Virginia say that they started noticing the difference in donation levels around Thanksgiving. Now they are doing everything they can to highlight the reason why they need these donations and what they are doing to get people to come in and help. Linda Huber has been donating blood with the American Red Cross for more than 20 years. “Christmas is a time for giving. It's time for sharing. And what else can you do but share your blood?” said Huber. Leaders with the American Red Cross in Virginia are echoing Huber's thoughts as the organization tries to encourage more people to donate blood for the holiday season. “We're really encouraging people across Richmond to give something with meaning. And what I mean by that is the holiday season is traditionally a typically challenging time for the Red Cross,” McNamara said. According to McNamara, the drop-off is due to many factors, but one is simply that people can get wrapped up in the holiday hustle and bustle. “When you relate it to the fact that we've seen significant weather cancellations of blood drives in other parts of the country,” McNamara said. "We feel that here in central Virginia because there is no substitute for your blood donation as we go throughout the holiday season.” Currently, the state of Virginia is not suffering from a shortage or in a state of emergency, However, McNamara says if donations don't pick up soon that could eventually change. “We're here to remind you that, unfortunately, we do see an increase in demand during the holiday season with more people hitting the roadways. And that's where you, the donor at the other end of this conversation can make a real impact,” McNamara said. He adds that the lack of donations isn't exclusive to the holiday season and that donations also tend to slow down around the summertime. “I'm here because I like to give platelets. I love to give blood because it's so much needed all through the year. But I got socks today,” Huber said. In addition to special “Friends” themed socks, the Red Cross is also giving out other merchandise to donors who come in to give blood. McNamara says you can get an exclusive “Hanging with my Snow-mies" long-sleeved Shirt if you donate blood between Dec.16 and Jan. 3. The organization also has an allotment of Amazon gift cards they’ll be giving out to donors from Dec. 9 to Dec.15. Click here to find out if you can donate and how else you can help.
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HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — The excitement surrounding the holiday season is continuing to ramp up but officials with the American Red Cross say that this particular time of year is when their donations start to slow down.
Leaders like Jonathan McNamara with the American Red Cross in Virginia say that they started noticing the difference in donation levels around Thanksgiving.
Now they are doing everything they can to highlight the reason why they need these donations and what they are doing to get people to come in and help.
Linda Huber has been donating blood with the American Red Cross for more than 20 years.
“Christmas is a time for giving. It's time for sharing. And what else can you do but share your blood?” said Huber.
Leaders with the American Red Cross in Virginia are echoing Huber's thoughts as the organization tries to encourage more people to donate blood for the holiday season.
“We're really encouraging people across Richmond to give something with meaning. And what I mean by that is the holiday season is traditionally a typically challenging time for the Red Cross,” McNamara said.
According to McNamara, the drop-off is due to many factors, but one is simply that people can get wrapped up in the holiday hustle and bustle.
“When you relate it to the fact that we've seen significant weather cancellations of blood drives in other parts of the country,” McNamara said. "We feel that here in central Virginia because there is no substitute for your blood donation as we go throughout the holiday season.”
Currently, the state of Virginia is not suffering from a shortage or in a state of emergency, However, McNamara says if donations don't pick up soon that could eventually change.
“We're here to remind you that, unfortunately, we do see an increase in demand during the holiday season with more people hitting the roadways. And that's where you, the donor at the other end of this conversation can make a real impact,” McNamara said.
He adds that the lack of donations isn't exclusive to the holiday season and that donations also tend to slow down around the summertime.
“I'm here because I like to give platelets. I love to give blood because it's so much needed all through the year. But I got socks today,” Huber said.
In addition to special “Friends” themed socks, the Red Cross is also giving out other merchandise to donors who come in to give blood.
McNamara says you can get an exclusive “Hanging with my Snow-mies" long-sleeved Shirt if you donate blood between Dec.16 and Jan. 3.
The organization also has an allotment of Amazon gift cards they’ll be giving out to donors from Dec. 9 to Dec.15. Click here to find out if you can donate and how else you can help.
