American Red Cross: Holiday Blood Donations Needed

Blood donations often decline from now to New Year’s Day when holiday festivities and seasonal illnesses pull people away from their donation appointments.

Despite the busy holiday season and threat of extreme freezing weather, the need for blood remains steady. And several area organizations are hosting blood drives to help replenish the supply. Donors with all blood types are needed, especially those with types O negative, B negative, A negative and AB blood.

Visit redcrossblood.org to learn more about hosting a blood drive. To make an appointment to donate blood, download the free Red Cross Blood Donor App from app stores, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Donors can now use the Blood Donor App to access their donor card and view vital signs from previous donations.

Here are some of the upcoming blood drives in the area:

Kensington:

• Dec. 4: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., St. Paul’s Church, 485 Alling St.

New Britain:

• Dec. 10: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Stanley Seniors Building, 400 Myrtle St.

Rocky Hill:

• Dec. 10: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Optum, 400 Capital Blvd.

Southington:

• Dec. 8: 1 p.m. - 6:45 p.m., Falcon Club, 33 Knowles Ave.
• Dec. 13: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Connecticut Sikh Association, Inc., 1610 West St.