Ministry Good Samaritan Health Center will be hosting a community blood drive on Monday, Nov. 22 from Noon to 6:30 p.m. The blood drive will be held inside the Medical Center, at 601 S. Center Ave. in Merrill.

The blood drive is being held during Thanksgiving week, when blood donations decrease across the country. The Northwoods Community Blood Center is encouraging people to join their friends and family in donating at the blood drive on Monday. In order to meet hospital needs, the blood center needs to collect around 1,350 blood donations during the week of Thanksgiving.

“If you haven’t given blood in the past 8 weeks, we’d love to see you at the drive on Monday. A successful blood drive in Merrill will help ensure that the hospitals receive an ample blood supply throughout the holiday,” explained Jan Hadsell of the blood center. “Donating blood is a generous and selfless act- and a wonderful way to celebrate Thanksgiving!”

Donation appointments for the blood drive are highly recommended, and can be made by calling the blood center at (800)280-4102 or going to www.save3lives.org.

Blood donors must be at least 17 years old (16 with parental permission), weigh at least 110 pounds, be in general good health, and bring a photo ID. Donors are encouraged to eat a regular meal and drink plenty of fluids prior to donating.

The Community Blood Center provides blood for 18 hospitals in Wisconsin and Michigan. Since 1955, the Community Blood Center has worked with volunteer blood donors to provide a steady, reliable blood supply for hospitals.