Donors Urged to Give Thanks by Giving Blood to Help Patients Through the Holidays

As November begins the end-of-year holiday countdown, nonprofit Vitalant urges all eligible donors to give thanks for their good health and make an appointment to give blood to help patients. Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs a blood transfusion. Whether an accident or surgery, blood disorder or cancer treatment, it’s the blood already donated that saves lives.

For years, Jenna Simpson regularly donated blood and never imagined she would depend on donors' generosity herself. Jenna became critically ill after developing multiple bleeding stomach ulcers. She needed two blood transfusions and spent nearly a week recovering in the hospital. 

"It literally saved my life," Simpson said. "I'll always be grateful to the people who donated blood without knowing who might need it. Because of them, I'm here today with my family." 

It takes donors of all blood types to keep the blood supply stable, especially type O and platelet donors. O-negative blood can help any patient. O-positive, the most common blood type, can help anyone with a positive blood type.

As a special thank you, all Vitalant donors in November will be entered to win a shopping spree: one of three $10,000 prepaid gift cards in Vitalant Donor Rewards. Plus, donors Nov. 1-22 will also be able to redeem an exclusive Winnie-the-Pooh T-shirt*.   

Learn more and make an appointment to give by visiting vitalant.org, download the   Vitalant app or call 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825).

*Terms and conditions apply. Visit: vitalant.org/classic