ATLANTA — With the holiday season gone, the thought of giving may not be etched in people’s minds, but the American Red Cross has a February promotion that should make the thought of giving year-round very appealing.  

“Flowers for the One You Love” offers all presenting blood and platelet donors in the month of February with an opportunity to win $1,200 in free flowers from Carithers Flowers.  

“Blood and platelet donors give patients in our area the opportunity to enjoy improved health,” commented Mario Sedlock, director of donor services, American Red Cross Blood Services, Southern Region. “We are grateful that Carithers Flowers has provided us with an opportunity to thank donors for their generosity.”

The need for blood donors continues to grow.  New studies indicate that the pool of eligible donors represents about 37 percent of the population with only about 8 percent of those eligible actually donating. About 4 million people in the U.S. need blood each year, and the overwhelming majority would die without it.

The Southern Blood Services Region, one of 36 American Red Cross Blood Services regions throughout the country, provides life-saving blood to patients in more than 130 hospitals and healthcare facilities. About 1,200 people need to give blood each weekday to meet hospital demand. There is no substitute for blood; volunteer donors are the only source.

Blood can be safely donated every 56 days. Most healthy people age 17 and older, who weigh at least 110 pounds, are eligible to donate blood.  

For more information or to schedule an appointment to donate, please call 1-800-GIVE LIFE (448-3543) or visit www.redcrossblood.org.