PALMER, Mass. (WWLP) - The holiday season brings joy and celebration, but it also brings an urgent need for blood donations across the state. As people get busy with holiday plans and travel, regular blood donors are often unable to make their usual donations. This puts a strain on hospitals as an adequate blood supply is vital for providing care to patients in need. That's why the community came together for the Baystate Health blood drive at Baystate Wing Hospital in Palmer. "We are really appreciative of all of our donors coming out. This time of year we do a little lack in the blood supply and so coming out to community hospitals all the blood we collect stys in all the community hospitals in western Mass," said Blood donor phlebotomist, Linzee Drzewiecki. Typically, for each blood drive, the hospital sees between 15 and 20 donors. Each coming together to roll up their sleeves and make a difference. "I feel it is something that you can't put a price tag on it's something I can that you can't just go to the local store and buy it, it's a gift of life," said Mary Leefrydryk of Three Rivers. Just one donation can save up to three lives. According to the Baystate Health blood donor program, the average person can only donate one pint of blood in a single donation, and the shelf life lasts only 42 days. A steady flow of donors will help hospitals to remain stocked in case of an emergency. "People who will benefit most from this are cardiac patients, labor and delivery, cancer patients, and trauma patients in the SPringfield area," added Drzewiecki. "Just the idea of being of service, you could be in need of the same thing, so to be able to pay it forward is a great idea," said Jon Hogan of Ware. This blood drive serves as a reminder of how just one simple act can have a huge impact on the lives of others. Blood drives will be held every other month on Wednesdays throughout next year. The next one will be held on February 12th. Local News Headlines Urgent need for blood donations this holiday season HCC opens Marieb Center for Student Parents Palmer rail stop site evaluation continues by MassDOT Springfield council rejects pay raise proposal WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.