MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Allegheny Highlands Chapter of the American Red Cross is calling on Morgantown Area residents to donate blood during the holiday season.
Representatives will be in Morgantown to accept blood donations at the Hotel Morgan in downtown Morgantown on Wednesday, December 20 from noon until 6 p.m. Donors over the age of 17 will be accepted with the process expected to take no more than a half hour. Executive Director of the Allegheny Highlands Chapter Jason Keeling says that most to all donors will be accepted as blood supplies reach critical points during the holiday season.
“With our holidays and schools are out, and so our collections tend to go down a bit,” said Keeling. “Which is why anyone who is open to giving blood and helping tomorrow (can do so) at Hotel Morgan in Morgantown from noon until 6 p.m.”
Much like in previous blood drives hosted by the American Red Cross, anyone who comes to the Hotel Morgan on Wednesday will receive prizes for coming in and donating. According to Keeling, long-sleeve shirt giveaways will be given to anyone who signs up and donates along with an entry to win a $1,000 Amazon gift card. An entry for the gift card drawing will be available for any donor regardless of when they come in, long sleeve t-shirts will be given on a first-come, first-serve basis.
“Right now our long sleeve t-shirts are in supply, and while they last, donors are going to get one of those, and then also, they’ll be entered into a drawing for a $1,000 Amazon gift card,” said Keeling.
Anyone who wishes to donate can do so for free without expecting it to be a long drawn-out process. This includes the filing of the donor application and a health screening that takes place before a needle goes into your arm. Once you begin donating, drawing of blood will take no more than fifteen minutes so it doesn’t affect the rest of your day.
“The actual draw itself is usually done in about 15 minutes and it’s a very seamless process,” Keeling said.
Blood that is donated during the holiday season is expected to be put into use almost immediately. This includes the care of individuals who have suffered physical injuries ranging from burns to car accident wounds, some of which may have taken place over the holiday season. For those who want to help others but may not have the means or large amounts of time to do so, Keeling feels this is an opportunity to take advantage of.
“It really is an opportunity to give blood and give a gift of life,” Keeling said. “And each donation, each blood unit collected really can help multiple people,” he said.