Blood Donations Needed During Holiday Season: Upcoming Holly Springs-Hickory Flat Drives

HOLLY SPRINGS-HICKORY FLAT, GA — The American Red Cross' blood supply is at historically low levels as the holiday season approaches.

Blood donations typically wane during the holiday season, but the shortage is being compounded by the ongoing challenges of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Red Cross.

People who give blood or plasma through Dec. 16 will be entered for a chance to win a private screening of "The Matrix Resurrections." The winner and 50 friends will be able to see the movie in a theater, plus the Red Cross will give the winner a $750 gift card for concessions.

Those who donate through Dec. 16 also will receive a $10 Amazon.com gift card.

Here are the Red Cross blood drives coming up in the Holly Springs-Hickory Flat area in the next few weeks. You can search for additional Red Cross blood drives from a wider area here.

• 12/7/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., WellStar Cherokee Health Park - Holly Springs, 1120 WellStar Way (Canton)
• 12/10/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Sixes United Methodist Church, 8385 Bells Ferry Road (Canton)
• 12/14/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., G. Cecil Pruett Community Center YMCA, 151 Waleska St (Canton)
• 12/17/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Orange United Methodist Church, 220 Orange Church Circle (Canton)
• 12/19/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Hickory Flat United Methodist Church, 4056 E. Cherokee Drive (Canton)
• 12/20/2021: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Canton American Legion, 160 Mcclure Street (Canton)
• 12/27/2021: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., R.T. Jones Memorial Library, 116 Brown Industrial Parkway (Canton)
• 12/28/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Canton United Methodist Church, 930 Lower Scot Mill Rd (Canton)

Editor's note: This list was automatically generated using data compiled by the American Red Cross. The local blood drives included in the list are limited to those at the time the Red Cross data was pulled. Please visit RedCrossBlood.org for the most current listing of drives. Please report any errors or other feedback to content@patch.com. Know of another blood drive coming up in your area? You can add it to the Patch calendar using this form.

In most states, donors need to be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in generally good health; some states allow 16-year-olds to donate with parental consent. Donors 18 years old and younger need to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive. Appointments can be made via the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, online or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS.