Blood donations usually drop during the holidays and cold weather, so it is important that donors give during the Rockmart Blood Drive from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 8.

The event will be held in the Fellowship Hall of Piedmont Avenue Baptist Church, located on North Piedmont Avenue in Rockmart.

“We encourage everyone to give during this drive to keep blood supplies from being depleted,” said Earline Akins, blood drive coordinator.

Davitte Masonic Lodge No. 513 will assist with the January drive and provide free barbecue as an addition to refreshments served to donors.

Officials with the American Red Cross note that every donation is used to help a variety of patients in need.

When blood is donated, it can be used for emergencies and for people, who have cancer, blood disorders sickle cell anemia and other illnesses. Some people need regular blood transfusions to live.

“There is simply no other way to supply the blood needs of hospital patients but for the generous donations of people during community blood drives,” Akins said.

She pointed out that every two seconds someone in America needs blood.

More than 38,000 donations are needed every day in communities across the United States.

The Southern Region of the American Red Cross must collect about 1,200 units of blood each weekday to meet the needs of patients in more than 140 hospitals and health care facilities.

Most healthy people, who are at least 17 years old and weight 110 pounds or more, can donate.

Blood can be donated every 56 days up to six times a year, according to ARC officials.