Caroline Carlson | Daily Press Collection specialist Consuelo Guzman draws blood from Doctor Tangerine Dupuis of Bellin Health recently during a Red Cross blood drive in Escanaba. Dr. Dupuis urges community members to donate blood.

ESCANABA — DEspite the coronavirus pandemic and the holiday season in full swing, there is still a need for blood in the Upper Peninsula. Residents answered the call for blood donations recently during a blood drive in Escanaba.

The drive was held at the Delta-Schoolcraft Intermediate School District building on December 9 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to American Red Cross, External Communications Manager Laura McGuire.

American Red Cross collection specialist Consuelo Guzman said they are pleased with the turnout for the drive. “Escanaba had a goal of 29 life saving donations and we bypassed that tremendously. We ended up with 41 donations,” said McGuire, who noted the number correlates to 141% of their goal.

When asked if donors appeared more nervous than usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Guzman said no, but the high school students who donated were nervous about the needles, as usual. The Red Cross draws about a pint of blood per donor, to be used in part or in full to fulfill many medical needs.

“We at the Red Cross are urging people to give blood. We see a decline in donations in the winter due to people getting busy with holidays, cancellations due to winter weather. However the need for blood is constant. We don’t pause for holidays, we don’t pause for weather, we don’t pause for COVID,” said McGuire.

McGuire pointed out those who have recovered from COVID-19 should consider donating because blood with the antibodies for COVID-19 can be used to help people who are seriously ill with the virus who are hospitalized. COVID-19 convalescent plasma is a type of blood donation given by those who’ve recovered from this coronavirus. Their plasma contains antibodies that may help patients actively fighting the virus, according to the Red Cross.

“Please donate blood, now is an important time more than ever,” said Doctor Tangerine Dupuis of Bellin Health, who was at the event to donate blood. “It’s easy, it’s free, and it’s painless.”

Community members are encouraged to attend the next drive in Escanaba on December 30 from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Delta Plaza Mall, 301 N Lincoln Road. All blood donations will receive free COVID-19 antibody testing. Appointments are preferred. To make an appointment, call 1-800-RED-CROSS or go online at www.redcrossblood.org.

“The only way we can get blood is through one another. It cannot be manufactured and it does have an expiration date,” said McGuire.