There is a critical need for blood this holiday season, so please make your appointment now to donate blood on Christmas Eve, December 24 at the Boyd Legion, 8:30 am to 1:30 pm. No walk-ins will be accepted, so it is very important that all donors who have an appointment make every effort to keep that appointment. If you find that you are unable to keep your appointment for any reason, please call Donella at 715-644-3638 by December 23 so that slot can be filled. There still are a few later appointment slots still open, but they may be filling soon, so please make your appointment as soon as possible.

At the October drive, there were several donors who had appointments and never showed or called to cancel and some of those slots could have been filled.

Testing all blood donations for COVID-19 antibodies will be helpful for the collection of much-needed convalescent plasma products. As part of this effort, plasma from standard blood donations that test positive for COVID-19 antibodies – using two different antibody tests – may be processed into a convalescent plasma product to help patients battling this virus.

Red Cross antibody tests will also be helpful to identify individuals who have COVID-19 antibodies and may qualify to be convalescent plasma donors for future donations. A convalescent plasma donation collects plasma from COVID-19 survivors with antibodies that may help patients who are actively fighting the virus.

In addition, the Red Cross hopes that COVID-19 antibody testing will help provide our valued donors insight into whether they may have been exposed to this coronavirus. We also recognize that individuals and public health organizations desire more information about COVID19, and as an organization dedicated to helping others, the Red Cross is fortunate to be able to help during this pandemic.

Give the best Christmas gift ever, the gift of life to someone less fortunate. Make your appointment and donate blood on Christmas Eve.