BEND, OR --

Local Red Cross officials are worried as the number of blood donors decreases, while the need continues to grow. Jennifer Shaw, Donor Recruitment Manager for the local Red Cross, says blood donations generally go down near Christmas. "We probably see a 20-30% decrease in donors during the holidays. People are traveling; they're busy. It's kind of the last thing on people's minds."  

But, she says, donating blood is a way to give back without stressing your budget. "It's really a gift that keeps on giving. You're really impacting someone's life, and a family's life."

Right now in Central Oregon, there is a specific need for O-Negative, O-Positive, A-Negative and B-Negative blood. There are a handful of local blood drives this week in the Redmond area, and the Red Cross office in the Old Mill is open for donations.