The American Red Cross has partnered with country music superstar Martina McBride on a nationwide campaign called “Comfort & Joy” that encourages Americans to donate blood this holiday season. The month-long effort launched in November and runs through December 15th. Those that register online and donate during that time period are eligible to win special prizes.
Through the campaign, Martina and the American Red Cross are encouraging people to embrace the comforts of home and family and to create a new tradition of giving blood and spreading joy.
Martina and her family understand the importance of giving blood, particularly during the holidays – a time of year in which donations usually drop. And with the ongoing pandemic, the need is greater than usual - tens of thousands of blood drives have been canceled or moved as schools, businesses and community organizations have closed or restricted access to their facilities. As a second wave approaches, industry experts are increasingly concerned about decreasing blood donations.
In this year full of immense change, some things remain the same – including the fact that lifesaving blood transfusions are needed to help kids fighting cancer, accident victims being raced into emergency rooms, or new moms experiencing complicated childbirths - these transfusions can only come from volunteer blood donors.
Q: This holiday season, why is it important for you to partner with the American Red Cross and ask people to give blood?
A: During the holiday season, people get busy, lives get very busy . . . with cooking shopping, decorating, hanging out with family and sometimes people forget to do those routine things like give blood. The need is still there, so it’s important to remember to give blood during the holiday season.
Q: The most common reason people say they don’t give blood is because no one has ever asked them – what would you say to them to convince someone to make an appointment to give this month?
A: When you give blood, you feel really good about yourself. You feel like you’re contributing to your community, you’re helping someone … and it’s very easy to do. And so, if nobody has ever asked you to give blood before, I’m asking you to give blood, especially during this trying time.
Q: What would you tell a first-time blood donor who was maybe afraid to give blood to help them overcome their fear?
A: Well, I mean, it’s completely understandable that you’d have a little bit of fear. Some people are scared of needles. I’m not the biggest fan of needles, but Red Cross makes it so easy and so safe and it only takes about 10 minutes. So, it’s really worth it, you know to give back to your community.
Q: Tell us about your big plans the holidays this season; family, cooking, music, big meal?
A: This holiday season, I’m going to try to keep things as normal as possible. It will be just family, so it will be myself, my husband and my three daughters. And we have some traditions, you know we always get a live tree. We love to decorate the tree. Lots of cooking going on, we build a fire in the fireplace and play Christmas music and watch movies and do puzzles and, you know, it’s just one of
those, one of the most joyful times. And I love how at the holidays the whole world kind of changes, you know the way everything looks and smells and feels. So, I’m definitely looking forward to the holiday season this year.”
Q: What are you looking forward to in 2021?
A: Well in 2021, we’re going to hopefully get back out on the road, we have dates booked and it’ll be so great for me to be able to perform my new single, “Girls Like Me,” in front of a live audience. That’s something I’m really looking forward to. And we’re picking up our ‘Vocal Point’ podcast again, with some new guests and that’s going to be really exciting and yeah, just hopefully getting back to
normal.”
Sauteéd Spinach Recipe: (from Martina's Kitchen Mix: My Recipe Playlist for Real Life)
"It’s so easy, there are three ingredients to this thing and it’s actually really good to eat before you donate blood. The American Red Cross recommends eating foods that are high in iron and Vitamin C before you donate blood and spinach has both of those."
2 tbs olive oil
3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
2 (16-ounce) packages fresh baby spinach
1-1/2 tsp fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon; apple cider vinegar may be substituted)
Directions: Heat the oil in a large stockpot over medium. Add the garlic and cook 30 seconds. Add the spinach, tossing to coat, and cook 3 to 5 minutes or just until wilted. Remove from the heat, and stir in the lemon juice or vinegar; add salt and black pepper to taste.
- Only 3 out of 100 Americans donate blood, yet every two seconds, someone needs it.
- Red blood cells have a shelf life of only 42 days and platelets just five days, so they must be constantly replenished by volunteer blood donors.
- The American Red Cross adheres to the highest standards of safety and infection control, so that giving blood is as safe as possible.
- To help ensure a successful blood donation, it’s important to drink extra fluids and eat a nutritious diet with food rich in iron and vitamin-C prior to donation. For more tips go to RedCrossBlood.org.