The holiday season is usually a time for giving. That isn’t always the case at the Community Blood Center, where donations have dried up.

“It’s usually the toughest time of year for us,” said Joey Eck, a donor recruiter for the center’s Lawrence office. “It’s human nature — people get so busy they don’t think about donating blood.

“But at the same time, we have an increase in need, with things like car accidents,” she said. “It gets to be a sticky situation for us.”

That’s why the center is making a new appeal for Lawrence residents to come in and donate. It’s also trying to entice potential donors by offering long-sleeved T-shirts and other goodies as a reward.

But it’s been difficult. The center’s goal is to have 40 people give blood each week. Most weeks, at least 30 people drop by. Not so during the holiday season.

“Yesterday, we didn’t have anyone here,” Eck said Tuesday. “It’s definitely slowed down.”

City commissioner Marty Kennedy prepares to donate a pint of blood under the watchful eye of phlebotomist Nicole Weatherwax at the new Community Blood Center in the Orchard Corners Shopping Center, 15th Street and Kasold Drive. The center, which opened at the new location on Nov. 21., had a ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday, and Kennedy was the first donor after the event.

One person who did donate on Tuesday was City Commissioner Marty Kennedy, who dropped by the center’s new location at 15th Street and Kasold Drive for a ribbon-cutting, then stuck around to give blood.

“They need the blood to save lives and give other people a chance to live,” Kennedy said. “And it’s painless.”

Donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh more than 110 pounds and be in good health. The center particularly needs O-positive, O-negative and B-positive types.

“We’re always wanting any blood type,” Eck said. “Those are the kind that are particularly critical right now.”

¢ 6News video: Community Blood Center celebrates opening