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

LOS ANGELES/ORANGE COUNTIES (11/20/2008)(readMedia)-- The American Red Cross is holding its annual Thanksgiving Blood Drive, Thursday, November 27 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 nine blood drives for whole blood donors on Thanksgiving morning. These blood drives will run from 7 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. There will also be three blood drives for platelet donors that will run from 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 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.):

Fullerton Red Cross Donor Center - 1144 Rosecrans Ave., Fullerton, CA 92833

Glendale Red Cross Chapter - 1501 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA 91204

Laguna Hills Red Cross Donor Center - 22971 Mill Creek Dr., Laguna Hills, CA 92653

Long Beach Red Cross Donor Center - 3150 E. 29^th Street, Long Beach, CA 90806

Pasadena Red Cross Donor Center - 133 N. Altadena Drive, Suite 103, Pasadena, CA 91107

Thousand Oaks Inn - 75 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91360

Torrance Red Cross Donor Center - 2814 Sepulveda Blvd., Suite E, Torrance CA 90505

Valencia-Santa Clarita Valley Service Center, 23838 Valencia Blvd, #120, Valencia, CA 91355

West Covina Holiday Inn - 3223 E. Garvey Ave. North, West Covina, CA 91791

Platelet Thanksgiving Blood Drive Locations (7 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.):

Fullerton Red Cross Donor Center - 1144 Rosecrans Ave., Fullerton, CA 92833

Pasadena Red Cross Donor Center - 133 N. Altadena Dr., Suite 103, Pasadena, CA 91107

Torrance Red Cross Donor Center - 2814 Sepulveda Blvd., Torrance CA 90505

Any healthy person age 17 or older (age 16 when accompanied by a parent) and weighing at least 110 pounds may be eligible to donate blood. A photo I.D. is required for all donations.

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 givelife.org. For Spanish, please call 1.866.POR.VIDA (1.866.767.8432) or visit cruzrojaamericana.org. For platelet donations, please call 1.888.DROP of LIFE (1.888.376.7635).

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