Red Cross blood drive set for Thanksgiving

The American Red Cross is again hosting its annual Thanksgiving Day Blood Drive in Vancouver.

The blood drive is 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Nov. 27 at the Vancouver Blood Donation Center, 5109 N.E. 82nd Ave. Blood drives are also being held in Portland and Salem, Ore.

Donors of all blood types, particularly O-negative, A-negative and B-negative, are urged to schedule an appointment by calling 800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767) or visiting www.redcrossblood.org.

The Red Cross is offering a variety of seasonal goodies at all three sites to thank donors. Blood donors will receive a whole pumpkin pie, a commemorative T-shirt, a two-for-one coupon for tickets to the Oregon Ballet Theater production of The Nutcracker and a Red Cross pot holder stuffed with recipes from celebrity chefs.

The Oregon and Southwest Washington Blood Program is also issuing a plea for blood and platelet donations during the week of Thanksgiving, when supplies drop to critically low levels.

The program is asking donors, especially those with O-negative blood, to schedule an appointment at the Vancouver Donor Center, 9320 N.E. Vancouver Mall Drive, Suite 100. Appointments can be made at www.oswblood.org or by calling 800-398-7888. The center has extended holiday hours.