LANSING — The American Red Cross is urging eligible donors to give more life to patients now and into the new year by giving blood or platelets.

Donations decline during the time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day when busy holiday schedules cause regular donors to be less available to give and many blood drives may be canceled due to severe winter storms. Last year, nearly 64,000 fewer blood and platelet donations were given through the Red Cross during the seven weeks from Thanksgiving through the first week of January than the average during the rest of the year.

“By taking just about an hour of time today, you can help save someone’s life within a few weeks or even days of your donation,” said Todd Kulman, external communications manager of the Red Cross Great Lakes and Southeastern Michigan Blood Services Regions. “We’re asking donors to give now to help ensure blood is available when patients need it most.”

Blood is perishable and can only be replenished by volunteer donors. Red blood cells, the most transfused blood product, must be transfused within 42 days. Platelets, the tiny cells that form clots and help stop bleeding, must be transfused within five days.

More than half of all platelet donations go to cancer patients who may need platelet transfusions to prevent life-threatening bleeding during chemotherapy.

“Platelet donors don’t have to wait a few weeks to make a difference in a patient’s life,” Kulman said. “Someone could donate platelets on Monday, and by Friday, those same platelets can help someone’s fight to kick cancer.”

Kelly Ellison knows that.

Twenty-eight weeks into her third pregnancy, she was raced to the hospital with uncontrollable bleeding and received a doubly devastating diagnosis. Not only did she have aplastic anemia — a rare blood disorder in which the body’s bone marrow does not produce enough new blood cells — doctors also detected kidney cancer. Kelly received 43 units of blood and platelets.

Five weeks later, she gave birth prematurely to her son, who also needed blood transfusions to survive.

“Our lives have been forever changed because of lifesaving blood and platelet donations,” Ellison said. “Every breath I take is a blessing!”

All blood types are needed this winter. Platelet donations are especially encouraged the first week of the new year, which is among the most difficult to collect enough platelets to meet patient needs, Red Cross representatives said.

Donation appointments can be scheduled by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

As a special “thank-you” for taking the time to donate, those who come to give Dec. 21 through Jan. 7 will receive a long-sleeved Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities:

Wednesday, Dec. 20

11 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

American Red Cross

3838 Niles Road, St. Joseph

Tuesday, Dec. 26

11 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

Chapel Hill United Methodist Church

4071 Naomi Road, Sodus

Friday, Dec. 29

11 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

American Red Cross

3838 Niles Road, St. Joseph

Noon to 5:45 p.m.

Holy Maternity of Mary Catholic Church

210 N. Front St., Dowagiac

Tuesday, Jan. 2

Noon to 5:45 p.m.

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church

2673 W. John Beers Road, Stevensville

Wednesday, Jan. 3

Noon to 4:45 p.m.

Converge Community Church

601 W. Buffalo St., New Buffalo

Wednesday, Jan. 10

11 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

American Red Cross

3838 Niles Road, St. Joseph