January is recognized as National Blood Donor Month and following recent weather cancellations donations are needed now. The month-long observance encourages citizens to donate blood and platelets during a time of the year when they are most needed.

Donations typically dip in the winter months due to busy holiday schedules and bad weather. According to ImpactLife, frigid cold, snow, and ice has caused ImpactLife to lose at least 550 donations to recently canceled blood drives, closed Donor Centers, and missed appointments over the past week. Kirby Winn with ImpactLife explains, “Blood transfusions are given every day across our region, and yet we’ve just been through a time of the year when people are more busy. So often, the blood supply suffers, but the use of blood stays the same.”

There are plenty of upcoming opportunities to donate in the area in February. Ainsworth Community Church will hold a drive on February 2nd from 2 to 6:30 p.m. The Brighton Lions Club is hosting one on February 3rd from 3 to 6 p.m. Washington United Presbyterian Church with Rotary will be hosting a drive on February 12th from 1:30 to 6:30 p.m., and Washington High School has a drive scheduled on February 23rd from 8 a.m.to 1 p.m.