Jennifer O’Donnell prepares Emily Pflugh to withdraw blood during a blood drive to honor the memory of fallen firefighter Corey Comperatore in Freeport on Saturday, April 12, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

As the season of giving rolls on, we urge readers to give a gift that could very well save a stranger’s life — the gift of blood.

According to the American Red Cross, about 29,000 units of blood are needed each day in the United States. While nearly 7 million people give blood each year, it’s not enough to keep up with demand, as blood cells must be used within 42 days and platelets must be used within five.

We urge the public, especially those with type O negative blood able to be used on people of all blood types, to make one of these simple donations that save lives every day.

There are a few blood drives planned between now and the end of the year by the Red Cross in Butler County, including:

■ From noon to 5 p.m. on Tuesday at St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 201 W. Jefferson St., Butler

■ From 12:30 to 6 p.m. on Thursday at Herman Volunteer Fire Company, 789 Herman Road in Summit Township

■ From 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 29 at Hilton Garden Inn Pittsburgh/Cranberry, 2000 Garden View Lane, Cranberry Township

To register, visit redcrossblood.org.

— JP