Create a new holiday tradition by giving blood

GREEN BAY, WI- (WGBW) – The American Red Cross encourages folks to create a new holiday tradition by giving blood or platelets during this season. 

Type O negative blood donors and those giving platelets are especially urged to give now to help ensure patients can continue to receive the care they need in the coming weeks.

Record-breaking November travel is expected to carry into the new year, which could cause some potential donors to put off blood donation until after the holiday season. In addition to millions of Americans traveling to spend holidays with loved ones, extended vacations are also surging in popularity at a time when fewer people may be available to give lifesaving blood products.

Northeast Wisconsin Executive Director for the Red Cross Rebecca Rockhill says giving gifts is a holiday tradition. By donating blood or platelets you are giving a gift of health.

“You can give a gift to a person who is fighting cancer, or a newborn who is needing blood, or someone who is going through a sickle cell crisis. Giving gifts and saving lives as a family together. What a great tradition to start with families going into the new year,” Rockhill said.    

The 19th Annual Green Bay Winter Holiday Blood Drive is planned for Dec. 24 from 7 a.m. to noon at St. John the Baptist School, 2561Glendale Ave., and on Dec. 26 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Ashwaubenon Community Center, 900 Anderson Drive.

Now in its 19th year, the drive has collected over 2,400 life-saving donations, helping countless individuals in need.

“As we see people getting into the celebrations and the gatherings of the holidays, people tend to schedule less and cancel more for their blood donations. They’re thinking about other things,” said Rockhill. “So it’s really important that we continue to donate during the time when we tend to let it back off a little.  

“We understand that the holiday season is a busy time for everyone, but the need for blood remains constant, even during these months.”

Bring joy to someone facing a medical emergency; do something that means something by giving blood or a platelet donation. Schedule an appointment this December by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

For a limited time, those who come to give Dec. 9-15, 2024, will receive a $15 e-gift card to a merchant of choice. Those who come to give Dec. 16, 2024-Jan. 3, 2025, will receive an exclusive Red Cross long-sleeved T-shirt, while supplies last. For details on both offers, visit RedCrossBlood.org/Gifts.

Opportunities for giving blood

Upcoming blood donation opportunities now through Jan. 3, 2025:

MI

Menominee

• Carney: 
  • 12/23/2024: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Carney Evangelical Free Church, 52 Church Street
• Menominee: 
  • 12/11/2024: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Menominee High School, 2101 18th St.
• Stephenson:
  • 12/12/2024: 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Stephenson Fire Department, W628 Samuel St
• Wallace:
  • 12/10/2024: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Gethsemane Lutheran Church, N6095 US Highway 41

WI

Brown

• Ashwaubenon
  • 12/19/2024: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Bellin Heath Surgery & Specialty Center, 933 Waube Ln
  • 12/26/2024: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Ashwaubenon Community Center, Ashwaubenon Community Center, 900 Anderson Dr
• De Pere 
  • 12/9/2024: 12:30 p.m. – 5 p.m., St Francis Xavier, 220 S Michigan St
• Green Bay
  • 12/6/2024: 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Elks Lodge, 3195 S. Ridge Rd.
  • 12/6/2024: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Green Bay Blood Donation Center, 2131 Deckner Ave
  • 12/7/2024: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Green Bay Blood Donation Center, 2131 Deckner Ave
  • 12/8/2024: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Green Bay Blood Donation Center, 2131 Deckner Ave
  • 12/9/2024: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Green Bay Blood Donation Center, 2131 Deckner Ave
  • 12/10/2024: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., Green Bay Blood Donation Center, 2131 Deckner Ave
  • 12/11/2024: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., Green Bay Blood Donation Center, 2131 Deckner Ave
  • 12/12/2024: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Resurrection Church, 333 Hilltop Dr.
  • 12/13/2024: 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Elks Lodge, 3195 S. Ridge Rd.
  • 12/13/2024: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Green Bay Blood Donation Center, 2131 Deckner Ave
  • 12/14/2024: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Green Bay Blood Donation Center, 2131 Deckner Ave
  • 12/15/2024: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Green Bay Blood Donation Center, 2131 Deckner Ave
  • 12/16/2024: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Green Bay Blood Donation Center, 2131 Deckner Ave
  • 12/17/2024: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., The Automobile Gallery and Event Center, 400 S. Adams St.
  • 12/17/2024: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., Green Bay Blood Donation Center, 2131 Deckner Ave
  • 12/18/2024: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., Green Bay Blood Donation Center, 2131 Deckner Ave
  • 12/19/2024: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Green Bay Distillery, 835 Mike McCarthy Way
  • 12/20/2024: 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Elks Lodge, 3195 S. Ridge Rd.
  • 12/20/2024: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Green Bay Blood Donation Center, 2131 Deckner Ave
  • 12/21/2024: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Green Bay Blood Donation Center, 2131 Deckner Ave
  • 12/22/2024: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Green Bay Blood Donation Center, 2131 Deckner Ave
  • 12/23/2024: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Green Bay Blood Donation Center, 2131 Deckner Ave
  • 12/24/2024: 7 a.m. – 12 p.m., St John the Baptist School, 2561 Glendale Ave
  • 12/24/2024: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Green Bay Blood Donation Center, 2131 Deckner Ave
  • 12/27/2024: 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Elks Lodge, 3195 S. Ridge Rd.
  • 12/27/2024: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Green Bay Blood Donation Center, 2131 Deckner Ave
  • 12/27/2024: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., East Side YMCA, 1740 S Huron Road
  • 12/28/2024: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Green Bay Blood Donation Center, 2131 Deckner Ave
  • 12/29/2024: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Green Bay Blood Donation Center, 2131 Deckner Ave
  • 12/30/2024: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Green Bay Blood Donation Center, 2131 Deckner Ave
  • 12/30/2024: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Messiah Lutheran Church, 3186 Eaton Rd
  • 12/31/2024: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Green Bay Blood Donation Center, 2131 Deckner Ave
  • 12/31/2024: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Calvary Lutheran Church, 1301 S Ridge Rd
  • 1/1/2025: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Green Bay Blood Donation Center, 2131 Deckner Ave
  • 1/2/2025: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 200 S Ashland Ave
  • 1/3/2025: 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Elks Lodge, 3195 S. Ridge Rd.
  • 1/3/2025: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Green Bay Blood Donation Center, 2131 Deckner Ave
• Greenleaf
  • 12/26/2024: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Alleluia Lutheran Church, 6725 Elmro Rd
• New Franken
  • 12/20/2024: 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., St Joseph Church, 5996 Cty Rd K
• Suamico
  • 12/30/2024: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., Ahnapee Brewery, 1824 Parkfield Ct
• Wrightstown
  • 12/11/2024: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Wrightstown High School, 600 High St

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Calumet

• New Holstein
  • 12/16/2024: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., New Holstein Community Center, 1725 Silvermoon Ln

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Door

• Sister Bay
  • 12/17/2024: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., First Baptist Church, 2622 S Bayshore Dr

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Fond du Lac

• Eden
  • 1/3/2025: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Eden Fire Department, 104 Pine St
• Fond du Lac
  • 12/10/2024: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Thrive Church, 79 E 2nd St
  • 12/31/2024: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Radisson Hotel and Conference Center, 625 W Rolling Meadows Dr
• Oakfield
  • 12/6/2024: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Oakfield Community Center, 130 N Main St
• Ripon
  • 12/17/2024: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church ELCA, 430 Griswold St

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Green Lake

• Green Lake
  • 12/4/2024: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Green Lake High School, 612 Mill St
  • 12/19/2024: 12 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., American Legion, 518 Water Street
• Markesan
  • 12/18/2024: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., St Joseph Catholic Church, 41 Saint Joseph St

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Kewaunee

• Luxemburg
  • 1/2/2025: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., St. Louis School Hall, N8726 County Line Rd

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Marinette

• Athelstane
  • 12/30/2024: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Cornerstone Assembly of God, Cty Rd A and Cty Rd C
• Coleman
  • 1/3/2025: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Coleman High School, 347 Business 141 N
• Marinette
  • 12/16/2024: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Marinette Faith Lutheran Church, Faith Lutheran, 4009 Irving St.
  • 12/19/2024: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Pine Tree Mall, 2800 Roosevelt Rd.
  • 12/23/2024: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Best Western, 1821 Riverside Ave.
  • 1/2/2025: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Pine Tree Mall, 2800 Roosevelt Rd.
• Niagara
  • 12/11/2024: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Niagara School District, 700 Jefferson Ave
• Peshtigo
  • 12/5/2024: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Faith Baptist Church, 350 N Stephenson Ave

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Oconto

• Gillett
  • 12/11/2024: 12 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Gillett High School, 208 W Main Street
• Little Suamico
  • 12/9/2024: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., St Johns of Little Suamico, 1253 County Rd J
• Oconto
  • 1/2/2025: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Holy Trinity Catholic Parish, 716 Madison St
• Oconto Falls
  • 12/5/2024: 11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., United Methodist Church, 165 N Farm Rd
• Townsend
  • 12/16/2024: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Townsend Town Hall, 16564 Elm St.

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Outagamie

• Appleton
  • 12/17/2024: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., American Legion Post 38 Johnston Blessman, 3220 W. College Ave

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Shawano

• Bonduel
  • 12/13/2024: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Bonduel High School, 400 W Green Bay St
• Bowler
  • 12/13/2024: 11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Bowler High School, 500 S Almon

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Waupaca

• New London
  • 12/6/2024: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., American Legion, 840 E North Water St
• Weyauwega
  • 12/30/2024: 1:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Weyauwega City Hall, 109 E Main St

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Waushara

• Wautoma
  • 12/6/2024: 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Peace Lutheran Church, 335 W Prairie St
  • 12/20/2024: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Grizzly Fitness, 230 W MAIN ST

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Winnebago

• Neenah
  • 12/30/2024: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 200 S Church St
  • 1/2/2025: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Double Tree by Hilton Neenah, 123 East Wisconsin Ave
• Oshkosh
  • 12/13/2024: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Oshkosh Community YMCA, 3303 W 20th Avenue

How to donate blood

Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in.

Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass ® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.