National Blood Donor Month began in January 1970 to help boost blood collections during the winter. Blood donations often drop in the winter season. Busy holiday schedules and bad weather in the northern parts of the United States often impact the national blood supply. 

As you kick off the New Year and make your 2021 resolutions, donating blood whenever you are eligible is a powerful way to give back to your community.

How you can celebrate National Blood Donor Month

• Share Your Story – Send us your donor story and tell us why you donate. Your story will be posted on the OneBlood website and we may share it on our social media sites to inspire others. 
• Get Social – Post on your social media why donating is important to you. Tag us in the posts if we can share on OneBlood social channels.

Make a resolution to donate every time you are eligible

Did you know you can donate blood up to 6 times per year? That’s about every 56 days. Resolve to make giving blood a habit this year. Here are a few good ideas to help you stay on track. 

• Use the OneBlood Donor Portal –  In your donor portal, you can find locations, schedule appointments, track your donations, and view your overall cholesterol numbers. 
• Plan a giving date with your family, loved ones, or friends. Donating with others turns giving blood into a cherished time together.  In addition, you’re saving more lives. Share your experience on social to inspire others to bring a friend to donate.

Plus, giving blood has health benefits that include the pre-donation wellness check. A great no-cost way to monitor your health.

Eleanor’s Story

Eleanor was born 17 weeks premature, weighing just 1 pound, 3 ounces. The micro-preemie spent 124 days in the neonatal intensive care unit at Golisano Children’s Hospital.

While in the NICU, Eleanor received seven blood transfusions as doctors worked to keep her alive.

“Since she was so incredibly tiny, her body had trouble making its own blood, and the doctors needed to run many blood tests to determine appropriate treatment,” said her mom, Christine. “Some of her first blood transfusions were mere milliliters of blood.” Those seven tiny blood transfusions helped save the infant’s life.

“Thanks to blood donors, neonatal care, and her strong will, she’s now a happy, healthy 2-year-old,” Says Christine, her mom. “She’s so full of life!” See Eleanor’s full story here. 

Start the New Year with a Big Give

Be a part of the National Blood Donor Month celebration. Make an appointment to give blood today.