As the holiday season wanes and we all find ourselves with maybe a bit more time on our hands, it’s time to think of how we can give back to our communities while filling our mid-winter days.

There are many ways to give back and make a difference locally, such as volunteering, contributing to a food pantry or helping a neighbor.

These are all worthy and important ways to contribute to your community, but here, we ask our readers to consider donating the life-saving gift of blood if they are able to, as this donation could make all the difference for a friend, neighbor or fellow Yooper.

While it’s always needed, donating blood is particularly critical at this juncture, as just last week, the Upper Peninsula Regional Blood Center reported on its Facebook page that there was a severe blood shortage across the Upper Peninsula.

“This blood shortage impacts 13 U.P. hospitals and the safety of patients,” a Facebook post from the center reads. “Healthy, eligible donors are needed now to donate to help patients counting on lifesaving blood.”

And your choice to donate can make all the difference in an emergency or medical crisis.

“The blood supply can change in the blink of an eye,” the Facebook post from the center stated. “A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 units of blood.”

For those who are concerned about donating amid the COVID-19 pandemic, officials say “blood donation is considered an essential act and is safe to do at this time,” as blood is “an essential part of health care and the need for blood is constant,” according to the Upper Peninsula Regional Blood Center’s website.

“It is encouraged that all healthy, eligible donors consider donating during this time,” blood center officials said on the website. “We are taking additional precautionary measures to help protect you and our staff.”

For those who are inspired to donate, there are there are several blood drives coming up across the Upper Peninsula and appointments are also available at the U.P. Regional Blood Center, which is located at 427 W. College Ave., Marquette.

To make an appointment or learn more, call the U.P. Regional Blood Center at 906-449-1450 or 1-800-491-4483.

Updates, more information and a list of U.P. blood drives is also available at https://www.facebook.com/pg/UPRBC906/events/?ref=page_internal.

So we urge you, please consider giving blood if you are able to. You could save a life.