The Canadian Blood Services need 480 blood donations between Dec. 26 and Jan. 2nd to meet the demand of Waterloo Region.

During the same time last year the Canadian Blood Services received 280 donations, 200 shy of the 480 that they would have liked to receive.

“Holidays are one of the hardest times for us to get people in to donate blood because people are going about their holiday routine, they’re spending time with family, they’re not thinking about the need for blood,” says Tara Gutscher, the Territory Manager for Canadian Blood Services.

According to a recent poll by the Canadian Blood Services one in two Canadians say that they, or a family member, needed a blood product for either surgery or medical treatment, yet only one in 60 eligible Canadians donate.

Brad Sims, who has donated blood 48 times, says that the staff at the Bridgeport Road location makes everyone feel at ease before they donate.

“Once you get used to it, it gets easy,” he said, “When you do it you feel pretty good about yourself.”

Gutscher says that if you're on the fence about whether to donate or not, come with a friend who has donated before.  The whole process takes about an hour, with the actual donation only taking five to ten minutes.

“It's super easy to do, it's not painful at all, and it's fast, and it could save a life,” says Sarah Mitchell, a blood donor.

You can find a full list of blood donor clinics and their hours of operation below:

KW Blood Donor Clinic – 94 Bridgeport Road East, Waterloo

  • Monday Dec. 26, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
  • Tuesday Dec. 27, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
  • Wednesday Dec. 28, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
  • Thursday Dec. 29, 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.
  • Friday Dec. 30, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
  • Saturday Dec. 31, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
  • Monday Jan. 2, 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Baden Blood Donor Clinic – Steinmann Mennonite Church

  • Monday Dec. 28, 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Cambridge Blood Donor Clinic – UK Club

  • Tuesday Dec. 27, 2:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Kitchener Blood Donor Clinic - Mennonite Brethren Church

  • Monday Jan. 2, 2:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Wellesley Blood Donor Clinic – Wellesley Community Centre

  • Monday Jan. 2, 2:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.