Christmas blood drive December 26

The Blood Center of East Texas will collect blood in Diboll Dec 26.

The blood collection unit will be at Duncan Unit, 1502 S. First Street from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on the day after Christmas.

For the Christmas blood drive, all who give blood will be credited with triple points and will receive a tee-shirt.

A regular number of blood donations is needed every day to help save lives in the East Texas region. Holidays are an especially important time for donations, as many donors go out of town or become busy with holiday activities, and don't always make time to donate. Individuals who Commit for Life and donate at least once a quarter are key to meeting this important need.

Those who donate or attempt to donate may participate in The Blood Center's Holiday Hugs promotion, in which blood donors can write notes of well-wishes to patients spending the holidays in the hospital. Notes from gold-level donors will be attached to cuddly stuffed animals and hand-delivered to patients.

The Blood Center East Texas is the local community blood center and primary supplier of blood products to eight hospitals and healthcare facilities in the six East Texas counties surrounding Lufkin and Nacogdoches, including Lufkin Memorial Medical Center, Woodland Heights Medical Center and Livingston Memorial Medical Center.