Gainesville Red Cross blood center open New Year's

GAINESVILLE - The American Red Cross has decided to open its donor center in Gainesville New Year's Day because of the acute blood shortage.

The organization Monday said there is a critical shortage of blood, and urged northeast Georgians to give. They now say, not enough people have responded to that plea.

"We need blood donors of all types," said spokesperson Cheryl Vandiver. "O negative and O positive, especially."

The Northeast Georgia Chapter of the Red Cross will open its donor center on New Year's Day from 9 AM to 2 PM.