The 11th annual St. Louis Jewish Community Blood Drive will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 7 at Young Israel, 8101 Delmar Blvd. in University City.

In conjunction with the blood drive there will be a food drive to benefit the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry. 

The blood drive was started by Bob and Judy Hellman as a chesed project that everyone in the community can participate in and benefit from.  

A news release from the American Red Cross noted that the agency faces a shortage of blood donors during the holiday season. Last year, it saw nearly 64,000 fewer blood and platelet donations during the weeks between Thanksgiving and the first week of January, compared to the rest of the year. 

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The Red Cross noted that blood is highly perishable — red blood cells must be transfused within 42 days and platelets must be transfused within five days.

“By taking just about an hour of time today, you can help save someone’s life within a few weeks or even days of your donation,” said Joe Zydlo, external communications manager of the American Red Cross’ Missouri-Illinois Blood Services Regions in a statement.

To make an appointment, call 1-800-RED-CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org (use code YIJS for either), or call  Judy Hellman at 314-324-3384. Walk-ins are available the day of the drive but appointments take preference.