If money is tight and you're looking for ways to give back this holiday season, note The American Red Cross is in urgent need of blood donations, particularly types O- and B-.
A spokesperson explained, "The need for blood is constant, and volunteer donors are the only source of blood for those in need."
For added incentive, donors in certain timeframes this month can receive incentives such as Amazon gift cards or Red Cross T-shirts.
To donate, individuals can use the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org, or call 1-800-RED CROSS.
"Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood—whether it’s a trauma patient fighting to survive, a mother welcoming a newborn, or an individual courageously battling cancer or sickle cell disease. Blood transfusions are only possible thanks to the generosity of strangers. Their donations are not just a medical necessity; they are a lifeline.
"Over the past year, nearly half a million people donated blood for the very first time, joining a national community committed to saving lives. Each of these donors demonstrated that extraordinary impact can come from an ordinary act of generosity. Together, they helped ensure patients received the blood products they needed when it mattered most," the Red Cross wrote in an urgent appeal for donors.