Red Cross Urges Blood Donations This Holiday Season

The American Red Cross is urging eligible donors to give the gift of blood this holiday season.

Officials say December is a time when donations decline but the need of patients remains steady.  Donors of all blood types are needed to ensure a sufficient supply for hospital patients.

Barbara Coger will never forget the donors that gave the blood that her husband received during the holidays. “I have been donating blood for some time, but really started encouraging others to do so after my husband received a donation on Christmas Eve,” she said. “He had not been doing well and would not survive much longer, but with that extra boost, he was able to share a big smile with me on Christmas morning, something I will always cherish.”

All donors from December 22nd to January 8th will receive a long sleeve Red Cross t-shirt, while supplies last.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities:

American Red Cross Blood Donation Center:

Utica Blood Donation Center

4685 Commercial Drive

New Hartford, NY 13413

Monday-Wednesday: 11:30 a.m.-7:00 p.m.

Thursday-Sunday:  7:00 a.m.- 2:30 p.m.

Little Falls

12/21/2016: 3 p.m. - 7 p.m., Alpine Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, 755 East Monroe Street

Newport

12/28/2016: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Newport Fire Department, Rt. 28, 7371 Main Street

Boonville

12/16/2016: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Harland J Hennessey Veterans of Foreign Wars, 108 Park Avenue

Holland Patent

12/19/2016: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Leon R Roberts American Legion, 9550 Depot Street

Rome

12/16/2016: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., St John's Lutheran Church, 502 West Chestnut Street

12/27/2016: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., YMCA Rome, 301 W Bloomfield Street

Utica

12/19/2016: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., American Legion Post 229, 409 Herkimer Road

12/20/2016: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Temple Emanu-El, 2710 Genesee Street

Verona

12/21/2016: 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Oneida Nation Enterprises, LLC., 5218 Patrick Road

To make an appointment to donate blood, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1 800 Red Cross