Houston County Red Cross Hosts Blood Drive

It’s an easy gift to give, and it helps so many people.

It only takes about a little bit of your time.

The Red Cross set up a blood drive at the Centerville Mall today in hopes of collecting more than 30 pints of blood for the community.

Staffers were on hand, helping donors save a life. And Middle Georgians say it’s the easiest gift to share this holiday season.

“Blood is a gift from your heart,” said blood donor Ken Smithers. “It doesn’t cost you anything, it takes 15, 20 minutes of your time. There’s people out there that need your blood. I came to the conclusion that was the easiest gift to give, so, I give it.”

“Blood is not something that can be medically reproduced, and so many times you have children or families who, a simple car accident will cause them to need blood,” said another blood donor, Michele Angelos.

“There’s several reasons–why not? It’s the holidays and people need it more than ever,” said Chris Benefild, a blood donor.

Kristen Keifer, the Houston County Representative for the Red Cross, says ironically, during the season of giving, blood donations go down, here in Middle Georgia.

“We do have really great healthcare–we have the Medical Center of Central Georgia and that has a really great heart center and it’s a level one trauma center and so we have to fill the total needs of them so that’s a big need,” said Keifer.

It’s a big need that starts with the community stepping up during the holiday season.

If you want to get involved with the Red Cross, you can visit the the Red Cross blood donating website.