CELINA-The holidays are here and for most of us that means battling crowds, rushing from store to store and waiting in long lines…all in search of the perfect gift.

But the perfect gift is as close as your American Red Cross blood drive.  It’s a life-saving blood donation. So this year, leave your worries behind and concentrate on doing something good for someone else. 

“A blood donation provides a true gift from the heart that can give someone another holiday season with loved ones,” says Steve Beeler, CEO, Tennessee Valley Blood Services Region.  “But blood is only available when generous donors roll up their sleeves. It truly may be the greatest gift someone receives this holiday season.” 

Life-saving blood must be available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  It’s needed for traumas, surgeries, cancer and leukemia treatments, organ transplants and more.  There simply is no substitute. 

“Because people are busier than normal around the holidays, it can be easy to forget to make time to donate blood,” says Beeler.  “But the need for live-saving blood doesn’t take a holiday.  Every two seconds someone in America needs blood.  You can help by giving the perfect gift.”

Locally, you can give blood on Wednesday, Dec. 9, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Celina Community Center located at 145 Cordell Highway in Celina.

In addition, the Red Cross is proud to present “The Perfect Gift,” a 3-minute video highlighting the importance of blood donation.  We hope it will inspire you this holiday season and beyond.  To view “The Perfect Gift,” log on to www.redcrossgift.org.

You are also invited to join the Red Cross texting program by sending redcross to 42227.  Those opting in will receive emergency inventory notifications, on-going education information or help finding a convenient blood drive location.