Help Save A Life in the Morning...Enjoy Turkey in the Evening

LOS ANGELES/ORANGE COUNTIES (11/15/2007)(readMedia)-- The American Red Cross is holding its annual Thanksgiving Blood Drive, Thursday, November 22 and is encouraging people to donate blood and help save up to three lives before the holiday turkey is served.

“What better way to give thanks than by giving the gift of life,” states Cliff Numark, director of donor recruitment for the Red Cross. “As the holiday season approaches, the supply of blood becomes increasingly low due to our regular donors going on vacation and attending family events. We are asking donors to help us meet our local blood needs this holiday by making an appointment to donate on Thanksgiving.”

The Red Cross will hold eight blood drives for whole blood donors Thanksgiving morning. These blood drives will run from 7 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. In addition, there are four blood drives scheduled for platelet donors which will run from 6:30 a.m. to 12 Noon. Special breakfast goodies will be served at all blood-drive locations. In addition, all donors will receive a special “thank you” T-shirt and have the opportunity to enter his or her name in a drawing for a chance to win a $500 shopping spree gift card from American Express.

Whole Blood Thanksgiving Blood Drive Locations (7 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.):

Valencia Red Cross Donor Center – Old Facey Medical Building, 23838 Valencia Blvd, #120, Valencia, CA 91355; Glendale Red Cross Chapter – 1501 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA 91204; West Covina Holiday Inn – 3223 E. Garvey Ave. North, West Covina, CA 91791; Thousand Oaks Inn – 75 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91360; Fullerton Red Cross Donor Center – 1144 Rosecrans Ave., Fullerton, CA 92833; Laguna Hills Red Cross Donor Center – 22971 Mill Creek Dr., Laguna Hills, CA 92653; Long Beach Red Cross Donor Center – 3150 E. 29th Street, Long Beach, CA 90806; and, Torrance Red Cross Donor Center – 2814 Sepulveda Blvd., Suite E, Torrance CA 90505.

Platelet Thanksgiving Blood Drive Locations (6:30 a.m. – 12 Noon):

Torrance Red Cross Donor Center – 2814 Sepulveda Blvd., Torrance CA 90505; Santa Ana Red Cross Donor Center – 1518 Warner Ave. Suite 15, Santa Ana, CA 92705; Fullerton Red Cross Donor Center – 1144 Rosecrans Ave., Fullerton, CA 92833; and, Pasadena Red Cross Donor Center – 133 N. Altadena Dr., Suite 103, Pasadena, CA 91107.

Any healthy person age 17 or older and weighing at least 110 pounds may be eligible to donate blood. All eligible donors are asked to schedule an appointment to donate whole blood by calling 1.800.GIVE.LIFE (1.800.448.3543) or by visiting www.GiveLife.org. For Spanish, please call 1.866.POR.VIDA (1.866.767.8432) or visit www.cruzrojaamericana.org. For platelet donations, please call 1.888.DROP of LIFE (1.888.376.7635).

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