To most of people, the season of giving applies to filling donations for toys or food pantries.
The American Red Cross says that can also mean donating blood.
"As we go into the holiday season, historically we know that people aren't scheduling their appointments for various reasons: they're traveling, they have family coming into town, they're shopping for christmas,Courtney Slanaker said.
Slanaker, the Executive Director of the Southern Arizona Chapter of the American Red Cross, says donations can be made any time of the year.
"Or it's because of generous sponsors like Scripps Media that's hosting a blood drive."
Scripps Media is the parent company of KGUN9.
Slanaker explained the impact of just one donation.
"When you donate a blood product, you can save up to three lives," she said.
"It could be someone that's going through cancers and needs the platelets for their treatment process.
Between September and October of this year, Slanaker says. the Red Cross had 17,000 fewer units of blood across the country.
That shortfall matters since regional chapters rely each other fill shortages.
"Once our local supply is met, your blood could also help someone that's in California, or on the east coast that also needs that life saving product."
Slanaker say the local chapter supplies 90 percent of Southern Arizona hospitals.
Red Cross James Gilloon said "21 pints of blood were donated today for a total of 63 potential lives saved."
