Bloodmobile workers remain in good spirits serving almost 200 donors from all over the county and beyond over the three-day Citrus Heights blood drive. Vitalant staff included: Scott McCombs, Lindsey Peterson and Bill Hunt. Photo courtesy of Vitalant

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - Marketplace at Birdcage will again host its three-day Bloodmobile blood drive at 6177 Sunrise Blvd. in Citrus Heights.

What better way to say thank you for all you are grateful for than to take a short pause before the holiday rush to help save a life or help a patient in need in many other ways.

This year’s drive is being held from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Nov. 29, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.

To make an appointment, go to vitalant.org/98Rock.

Volunteers Che’la Woodson and Lyne Benson smile during the ‘Rock N Roll Up Your Sleeve’ blood drive at the Marketplace at Birdcage Center in 2023. Photo courtesy of Vitalant Communications

Since 1992, Vitalant has partnered with Sacramento's largest rock station, 98 Rock, to help ensure patients have the blood they need throughout the holiday season. Patients don't take a holiday from needing blood.

All blood types are critically needed, especially type O. Type O is often needed in emergency situations as well as for routine lifesaving surgeries, cancer treatment and more. Blood donations are being distributed to hospitals as quickly as donations are collected.

All donors will receive a Rock 'N Roll Up Your Sleeve blood donor T-shirt.

As a special thanks for donating around the Thanksgiving holiday, all donors will receive a $20 gift card, redeemable via Donor Rewards. For more information, visit 2024 Gobble Up (vitalant.org).

Deejay Joe Brazil was new to 98.5 Rock for the 2023 drive, and is enthusiastic about their work in the community, not only during the holiday blood drives but year-round. Courtesy photo

Donors will also have the chance to win one of three $10,000 prepaid gift cards, redeemable via Donor Rewards. For more information, visit 2024 Make Difference (vitalant.org).

Three more local 98Rock blood drive locations are scheduled. On Dec. 26, the Sacramento Kings/Vitalant Blood Drive will be held at Market Square at Arden Fair Mall. Donors get two in-hand tickets to a Kings game.

For four days, from Jan. 8 to 11, the KCRA/Vitalant blood drive will be held at two locations: Sierra College in Rocklin (all four days); and the Scottish Rite Masonic Center on H Street on Jan. 8 and Jan. 9. For these events, call 877-258-4825 and ask for information on the 98 Rock bloodmobile drives.