There is a dire need for blood donations – specifically O-negative – at today’s LifeSouth blood drive at Walmart.

Called a “Stock the Shelves” drive, donations will be accepted beginning at 9 a.m. inside the organization’s blood mobile outside the Andalusia retailer, said Melinda Hinds, LifeSouth’s district community development coordinator.

“We need all negative blood types at this time the most – especially O-neg donors,” Hinds said. “LifeSouth is a community blood center and we supply local hospitals such as our major hospitals like Southeast Alabama Medical Center in Dothan along with Flowers in Dothan, and also, Baptist South and Baptist East and Jackson Hospital in Montgomery.

“These hospitals are seeing a rise in the need for blood products and December and January always prove to be a very critical time for us to collect,” she said. “The main reason is that most of our regular donors are traveling and out of their normal routine with the holidays here and kids out of school.”

To donate, one must be at least 17 and provide a photo ID (16 year olds may donate with a signed parental consent) and weigh 110 pounds or more.

“It takes about 30-45 minutes to give the gift of life,” Hinds said.

Every donor will be registered to win a Playstation 4, she said.