Canadian Blood Services is looking to fill a number of appointments before January 4th in Saskatchewan.

Lisa Beechinor, Territory Manager for Saskatoon says from December 16th to January 4th there are over 600 open appointments in Regina and over 700 in Saskatoon that need to be filled.

The territory manager adds the holiday season with the statutory holidays shortens the window for when donations can be made.

Canadian Blood Services also does platelet and plasma donations. Beechinor says there’s also a large need for more potential donors for the Canadian Blood Services Stem Cell Registry to support life saving treatments.

“We’re urging all eligible donors between the ages of 17 and 35 to join Canada’s Canadian Blood Services Stem Cell Registry online. With that there is also a greater need for donors of all ethnicities, especially donors from Indigenous, Asian, South Asian and Hispanic, mixed race and black backgrounds.”

Beechinor adds they would like to see people come and down and bring their families in to donate over the holidays.

Those interested in donating can do so by visiting blood.ca, downloading the Give Blood app or by calling 1-888-2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283).