Holiday shopping can be stressful, but picking out the perfect gift doesn’t have to be that hard. The American Red Cross requests donors to give the gift of life this December during the Give Something That Means Something blood drive.

The promotional drive — which runs through Dec. 31 — gives each Red Cross blood or platelet donor a chance to win a $1,000 American Express gift card that they can put toward holiday shopping, travel or food.

“Donating blood is an opportunity for people to give the most important gift of all, the ‘Gift of Life,’” said Tim Ryerson, chief executive officer of Red Cross Tennessee Valley Blood Services Region. “The Red Cross depends on the generosity of our donors to be able to meet the needs of patients in our area and across the country.”

The region needs nearly 600 people to donate blood products each weekday to meet the demands of hospitals in the area. Blood can be safely donated every 56 days, and platelets can be given every seven days and up to 24 times a year.

People can help donate at these upcoming local drives:

n Dec. 14, 1-6 p.m. at Benton Middle School, 906 Joe Creason Drive in Benton.

n Dec. 14, 1-6 p.m. at Sharpe Elementary Schoo, 8400 U.S. 60 W. in Marshall County.

n Dec. 17, 1-5 p.m. at Central Church of Christ-Benton, 2081 Mayfield Highway in Benton.

n Dec. 18, 3-7 p.m. at Altona Baptist Church, 5817 U.S. 62 in Calvert City.

n Dec. 18, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at American Legion, 211 S. Seventh Street in Mayfield.

n Dec. 19, 7 a.m.-4 p.m. at Lourdes hospital, 1530 Lone Oak Road in Paducah.

n Dec. 19, 2:30-7:30 p.m. at Lone Oak Church of Christ, 2960 Lone Oak Road in Paducah.