DARKE COUNTY – The New Year begins with a critical need for lifesaving blood donation. Honor January National and Ohio Blood Donor Awareness Month by making it your New Year’s resolution to donate at the following locations.

Do Good Restaurant and Ministry and Osgood community blood drive Wednesday, Jan. 3 from 1 -5 p.m. at 25 West Main St., Osgood.

City of Greenville community blood drive Thursday, Jan. 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Greenville Municipal Building, 100 Public Square.

Schedule an appointment to donate with Solvita (formerly Community Blood Center) on the Donor Time app, by calling (937) 461-3220, or at www.donortime.com.

Everyone who registers to donate at any Solvita blood drive, or the Solvita Dayton Center Jan. 2-Mar. 2 will receive the “Donor Love” long-sleeve, hoodie shirt, while supplies last.

National Blood Donor Awareness Month was proclaimed in 1969 to thank donors and encourage more donations during the winter months when the holidays, severe weather, and seasonal illness make it difficult to maintain a sufficient blood supply.

State Sen. Stephen Huffman (R-5th District), an emergency room physician and a life-long blood donor, introduced legislation in 2017 to designate January as Blood Donor Awareness Month in Ohio. It became law in February 2018 and was first celebrated in January 2019.

You can save time while helping save lives by using “DonorXPress” to complete the donor questionnaire before arriving at a blood drive. Find DonorXPress on the Donor Time App or at www.givingblood.org/donorxpress.

You can save time while helping save lives by using “DonorXPress” to complete the donor questionnaire before arriving at a blood drive. Find DonorXPress on the Donor Time App or at www.givingblood.org/donorxpress.