Plattsburgh, NY – Adirondack Blood Donor Center officials are asking all eligible donors to add donating blood to their holiday to-do list this year.

The need for blood and blood products is constant while donations traditionally decline during the holiday season, according to Laboratory Manager Shannon Nutbrown.

The schedule of community blood drives in December is as follows: 

• Thursday, Dec. 4, Medisca, 626 Tom Miller Road, 1 to 4 pm
• Friday, Dec. 5, Clinton County Government Center, First Floor Meeting Room, 137 Margaret St., 8:30 am to 12:30 pm
• Tuesday, Dec. 9, Plattsburgh Rehab and Nursing Home, 8 Bushey Blvd.,1 to 4 pm
• Wednesday, Dec.10, CVPH’s R3 Nursing Unit Solarium, 75 Beekman St., 5 to 10 am
• Friday, Dec.12, West Side Ballroom, 253 New York Road, sponsored by the Clinton County ARC, 9 am to 1 pm
• Monday, Dec. 15, FCI Ray Brook, 128 Ray Brook Rd., Ray Brook, 12:30 to 4 pm
• Thursday, Dec. 18, Holy Name Church Hall, 10 Church Lane, Ausable Forks, 4 to 7 pm
• Monday, Dec. 22, Essex Fire Department and co-sponsored Masonic Lodge, 2659 Station Rd., Essex, 4 to 7 pm
• Tuesday, Dec. 23, Bloomingdale Fire Department, 1640 Route 3, Bloomingdale, 3:30 to 6:30 pm
• Friday, Dec. 26, Champlain Centre Mall, 60 Smithfield Blvd., noon to 4 pm
• Monday, Dec. 29, Champlain EMS and co-sponsor Knights of Columbus, 1150 Route 11, 3 to 7 pm

Patients at Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital, Alice Hyde Medical Center in Malone and Elizabethtown Community Hospital (including Ticonderoga) along with the Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake benefit from the donations collected at drives conducted by the Blood Donor team and sponsored by community groups and local businesses. Donors can also donate at the Donor Center, located at 85 Plaza Blvd. and open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4 pm. One donated pint can help up to three North Country residents.

Blood donors must be at least 16 years-old (16- and 17-year-old donors must have written parental/guardian consent), in general good health and weigh at least 110 lbs. A screening questionnaire addressing personal medical, social and travel history is completed prior to donating and a donor card or another form of valid identification is also required. Donors must wait 56 days between donations. 

Learn more about the Adirondack Blood Center, giving blood and becoming a sponsor at UVMHealth.org/GiveBlood or call 518-562-7406.