Canadian Blood Services values the generosity of local blood donors, but due to increasing hospital demand, they are encouraging more residents to become regular blood donors.

The next blood donor clinics in the area will be Wednesday, Sept. 24 at Orangeville Baptist Church from 1:30 to 7:30 p.m. and Friday, Sept. 26 at the Orangeville Best Western Hotel on Buena Vista Drive from 3 to 7:30 p.m.

Regular blood donors help maintain the blood supply and can make a lifesaving difference to three patients with every donation. It takes about one hour to give and you can donate every 56 days. First-time donors aged 17 to 61 are always welcome.

"Hospital demand for blood continues to outpace original forecasts," said Lilet Raffinan, Community Development Co-ordinator with Canadian Blood Services.

Call 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236-6283) to make an appointment, to check eligibility requirements, or to find clinic locations. For more information about blood donation or the Canadian Blood Services' Partners for Life program, log on to blood.ca.

Canadian Blood Services is a national notfor profit charitable organization that manages the blood supply in all Canadian provinces (except Québec) and oversees OneMatch - the Stem Cell and Marrow Network.