VALDOSTA, Ga. – The holiday season is always a critical time for blood collections and this is a perfect way to help the Red Cross save lives.

Your Red Cross has a need for blood donations every day and especially during the Christmas season. The Eunice Family, CrossPointe Church and your American Red Cross are holding a blood drive to continue the legacy of James Eunice. Please join us on this special occasion and donate “some awesome blood.” By donating you can continue James’ legacy and save up to 3 lives.

James Eunice donated blood for the first and only time on December 23, 2010.  His family went to donate at their church-sponsored blood drive. They attended Christmas Eve services at Northside Baptist Church. James left from there to join his good friend, Emmaline Wilder, and her family at Waffle House for dinner and then followed them to their house to watch a movie. While there, James shared about donating blood, and told Emmaline’s mom, Sara, that “someone was going to get some awesome blood.”

He went missing 23 days after donating blood on January 15, 2011 while duck hunting. The Red Cross approached the family about co-sponsoring a blood drive with our church on December 22, 2011. They continue to encourage people to give some “awesome blood,” and that first year, the blood drive collected 236 pints of blood, the second largest total ever collected on that date in the state of Georgia. The blood drive has become an annual event each December, and has collected over 700 pints of blood to give to those who need it.

Please consider continuing James Eunice’s legacy and keep these facts in mind:

• Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, more than 1 million units of blood and platelets will be transfused to patients throughout the US.
• Type O Positive donors are widely needed since their blood is the most transfused and Type O Negative is the universal blood type.
• Due to severe snow weather, multiple drives have been cancelled and donation centers have had to close therefore leaving a shortage.
• Use the Rapid Pass on the day of the drive and bring with you to help save time.
• If anyone wishes to sponsor a blood drive, please share my email address. 

Go to Crosspointe Church Common Area located at 4100 N. Valdosta Road on Wednesday, Dec. 18 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

For an appointment or more info visit redcrossblood.org and use sponsor code: eunice