DECATUR - Residents are rolling up their sleeves this month to give the gift of life in honor of National Volunteer Blood Donor Month.

"It can be slow through the holidays just because people are busy," Twila McManmie, team leader with the Mid-Illinois Chapter of the American Red Cross, said of the season.

However, the regular, twice-weekly drives in Decatur have remained busy thanks to regular donors, McManmie said.

Other blood drives throughout the region have been canceled because of bad weather, McManmie said, and a recent Red Cross news release stated that blood supplies are dwindling to critically low numbers. Blood types O negative and B negative are currently the most crucial need.

Erich Drochner, 60, of Mount Zion gave blood Tuesday at the Red Cross in Decatur. After giving for the first time in about 18 years at a recent church drive, he decided to donate regularly as he is able.

"It was a long lapse," he said with a chuckle.

Drochner, whose blood type is O positive, said that giving is an easy way for him to help people in need. He encouraged other eligible donors to come in and give it a try.

"Just think of the good it does," he said. "You don't have to give any money ? For the little time it takes and the little exertion it does and the benefit that it gets, that's about as much leverage as you're going to get out of any kind of donation that you give of your time, or talent or money."

Blood donors must be 17 years old, or 16 with parental consent, weigh 110 pounds and be in general good health. According to Red Cross literature, its Mid-America division, one of 11 nationwide, must collect more than 54,000 units of blood monthly to keep up with patient needs. Each unit has the potential to save up to three lives.

The Red Cross, located at 2674 N. Main Street, holds drives every Tuesday from 2 to 6 p.m. and every Thursday from 12 to 6 p.m.

Call 1-800-448-3543 to schedule an appointment.

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