The American Red Cross is saying ‘Thank You’ times 1,000 this month.

To thank donors for helping meet the urgent need for blood donation in October, they are offering a $1,000 Amazon.com Gift Card to five lucky winners. Just make your appointment and come in to a blood donation center or blood drive. You’ll automatically be entered in the giveaway. It’s that easy.

Need more motivation? Here are five reasons to make your next appointment.

Your entire appointment (entry to exit) only takes about an hour.

Just one donation could help save more than one life.

Only about three percent of eligible Americans will give blood this year.

Blood donors are essential to helping patients every day, especially during a pandemic. (That’s why the Red Cross has extra safety precautions in place.)

Your blood donation could help children living with sickle cell disease, adults recovering from a car accident or other traumatic injury, elderly patients healing after surgery, and so many others counting on donors like you.

Upcoming opportunities to give blood in the area include: One Church Riverbank, 6101 Oakdale Road on Thursday, Oct. 15 from noon to 6 p.m.; Sponsor Code: One; or at the Modesto Fixed Site, 1900 W. Orangeburg Ave., Modesto, with various days and times available; Sponsor Code: ModestoCenter.

All donations are tested for COVID-19 antibodies, results available in one to two weeks. Plasma from antibody-positive donations may help coronavirus patients in need. The Red Cross follows the highest standards of safety and infection control. In accordance with CDC guidelines, all donors are required to wear a face covering or mask.