Did you know January is designated as National Volunteer Blood Donor Month?

Apparently, during this month each year, blood donations typically drop off because of holiday breaks from schools, inclement weather and winter illnesses.

You can be a part of filling the need.

We know not everyone is able to donate blood; there can be a variety of reasons someone might not be eligible to give. For those, however, who do qualify, we want to encourage you to roll up a sleeve, bare an arm and give the gift of life this month.

According to Becky Cecil, district community development coordinator for LifeSouth, while about 37 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood, only about 10 percent do annually. In a magazine article we shared in Franklin Living this past May/June, Cecil explained that gap can be a strain on the blood supply available to those in need. “It’s a life-or-death matter if it’s not there when somebody needs it. That’s a huge reason to donate,” said Cecil at that time.

To anyone fearful about giving blood, we join Cecil in offering one simple piece of advice: Try. Find a blood drive or a donor center and just try. Try to make that difference in someone else’s life. One donation can potentially save up to three lives.

That’s a huge impact – an opportunity to help, in a very real way, everyone from cancer patients to accident victims to the anemic. These people might be your neighbors, your friends, your family – or even yourself.

LifeSouth is a non-profit community blood center serving 17 north Alabama hospitals, including Russellville Hospital, as well as other hospitals across Alabama, Florida and Georgia. Although a donor center is available in the Shoals, Franklin County donors will frequently have opportunities to donate at bloodmobile drives right here in the county.

Make an appointment to donate by visiting www.lifesouth.org or calling 1-888-795-2707.