There is a gift that you can give this Christmas that costs you nothing, but can save a life. It takes only about an hour of your time, is almost painless and is priceless.

Yes, this gift is a donation of blood at the next Carteret Street United Methodist Church-sponsored American Red Cross Blood Drive on Thursday, December 4 in the Fellowship Hall (408 Carteret Street, Beaufort) from noon until 6 p.m.

American Red Cross blood is distributed regionally and throughout the world — wherever needed most — and is a source for blood used by the U.S. military services and natural disasters around the world.

To make an appointment, please call 1-866-611-7137 or log onto www.redcross.org/blood (it’s very simple). For the 1-866 number, after you get an answer press 2 (Option 2) for a Savannah-based operator to make your appointment.

Please remember to eat at least two hours before donating and reduce intake of tea and sodas at least one day before donating so that you can pass the “iron” test; drinking lots of water is also suggested. WebMD suggests these foods among others to boost iron in your blood: Red meat; egg yolks; dark, leafy greens (spinach, collards); dried fruit (prunes, raisins); iron-enriched cereals (a bowl of Frosted Mini-Wheats has 90% of your RDA of iron) and grains; beans, lentils, chick peas and soybeans; and artichokes.

For questions, please call Merle Hoagland at 522-2073 or e-mail merle13@embarqmail.com.