The American Red Cross and the Rock River Valley Blood Center (RRVBC) are encouraging people to give a life-saving gift this Christmas season by donating blood.

RRVBC Marketing Manager Jennifer Bowman has confirmed that blood collection rates with the nonprofit are down 30 per cent, partly due to harsh weather and the on-set of flu season.

Speaking on the topic, Bowman said, “A lot of us are busy shopping and traveling, but there are a lot of people in need of blood. You typically only hear about the day-to-day need of blood following disasters or major events.”

Starting Monday, RVBC and the American Red Cross will organize numerous blood drives in Milton, Janesville, Roscoe and South Beloit.

In Janesville, the Red Cross will hold three drives, starting Dec. 29. In Milton, it will hold two drives, one Dec. 28 at the St. Mary’s Center and second on Jan. 13 at the Milton School District’s main office on High Street.

Three RRVBC blood drives are slated to take place in South Beloit, starting with Papa John’s Pizza on Blackhawk Boulevard from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Dec. 26. The remaining two are slated for Jan. 9 and Jan. 14 at American Control Electronics on De La Tour Drive and at the Garden Hotel on Dearborn Avenue, respectively.