(WAND) –  Just rolling up your sleeve is an easy way to give back and can save two or more people through blood donations.

However, as we inch closer to the holidays, ImpactLife said donation rates tend to decline.

“People get very busy, they go out of town [and] donating blood is not top of mind. And so it’s really important for us to keep talking so these donors understand the importance of how their regular donations help keep blood on local shelves,” said Michelle Trunnell, ImpactLife regional manager of Central Illinois.

Local drives are an important part of collecting life-saving blood for those who need it, and the need right now is as big as it has ever been.

Anything donated helps not only those in the community but also throughout the region.