Give blood in Vermilion Parish this month

This holiday season, United Blood Services, Sterling Automotive Group and Townsquare Media are asking area residents to remember the “Reasons for the Season” – local hospital patients. This time of year there is a high need for blood, yet donations often decrease while people are busy with holiday plans.
All donors from Monday, December 16 through Tuesday, December 31 will be entered in a drawing for 1 of 10 $500 Visa Gift Cards. Plus, donors from Monday, December 16 through Saturday, December 21 will receive a red “Bowl Bound Geaux Cajuns” shirt and donors from Sunday, December 22 through Tuesday, December 31 will receive a long sleeved “I Believe in Miracles” t-shirt.
“I never knew how important donating blood is until I needed blood myself,” said Gina LeBlanc of Cecilia, Louisiana. “I have a rare condition that causes my blood to clot and free bleed at the same time. Blood donors have saved my life three times and probably will again.”

The following community blood drives are part of the Reasons for the Season:

Sunday, December 22 at Lowe’s Abbeville from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Monday, December 23 at Winn Dixie Abbeville from noon to 6 p.m.
Friday, December 27 at Walgreen’s Pharmacy Abbeville from noon to 6 p.m.
Monday, December 30 at Abbeville General Hospital from noon to 4:15 p.m.

You can also go to www.unitedbloodservices.org the day of your donation and click on the “Health History Questionnaire” button to save time as well as lives.
Volunteer blood donors must be at least 16 years old, weigh 110 pounds, be in good health and have a valid ID. Additional height and weight requirements apply to donors 22 and younger. Donors who are 16 must have signed permission from a parent or guardian. For more information on blood donation or to schedule an appointment call our Donor Center at (337) 235-LIFE (5433) or online at www.UnitedBloodServices.org. You can also visit our Donor Center in Lafayette at 1503 Bertrand Drive.
United Blood Services has been this area’s nonprofit community blood provider since 1953. In South Louisiana United Blood Services serves 50 hospitals in 32 parishes. The United Blood Service’s network is one of the nation’s oldest and largest non-profit blood service organizations, and is a founding member of America’s Blood centers and the AABB (formerly the American Association of Blood Banks).