Red Cross Encourages Public to Give Hope to Those in Need this Holiday Season | Community Spirit

During the 2012 holiday season, the American Red Cross is asking everyone to support the Red Cross mission by giving something meaningful – giving hope to those in need.

The 2012 American Red Cross Holiday Giving Campaign runs through the end of the year. People can support Red Cross services by making a financial donation or giving blood.

“In the true spirit of the season, we are asking people to give a gift through our holiday giving catalog or give the gift of life by making blood donation appointment,” said Scott R. Salemme, regional chief executive officer, American Red Cross, Columbia Region. “Together we can spread hope to those in need this holiday season.”

HOLIDAY GIVING CATALOG As people look for gift ideas this year, the Red Cross offers its 2012 Holiday Giving Catalog, through which people can support Red Cross programs by purchasing a variety of symbolic gifts. Shoppers can buy food and shelter for a disaster victim, phone cards for members of the military, vaccinations for an entire village and many other gift ideas. Catalog purchases come with greeting cards shoppers can send to a friend or loved one, letting them know a donation has been made in their name. The purchase of each gift item is a tax-deductible contribution and provides support to the mission of the Red Cross. The catalog gifts are contributions toward a Red Cross program area, not a donation to a specific project or item. To shop the catalog, visit redcross.org/gifts.

PLEASE GIVE BLOOD Give blood this holiday season and people won’t just be spreading joy. They’ll be

spreading hope as well. As many as 44,000 blood donations are needed every day across the country to meet the needs of hospital patients. During the holiday season, it is very difficult to collect enough blood for those who need it. People get busy with their holiday preparations and celebrations and giving blood is not a priority. The Red Cross asks those who are able to please give blood during the 2012 holiday season. To schedule a blood donation or for more information, people can call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcross.org.