BEAUMONT, Texas — 12News is teaming up with Lifeshare Blood Center for a special holiday blood drive.
United We Give, LifeShare Blood Center's annual three-day event, ended Saturday. Officials were excited to announce that this event broke the 2021 record.
In 2021,1,867 people gave blood. In 2022, 2,048 people gave blood.
The need for blood has been high for months, which is why the American Red Cross declared the first-ever blood shortage.
Today was the third year of the United We Give event, and Lifeshare is celebrating its 80th year as a foundation.
The United We Give event focuses on using this holiday weekend as a way of providing enough blood to get through the summer.
Transfusions happen every day from things like mothers giving birth to sickle cell anemia treatment.
"Since one in three people will need a transfusion in their lifetime. That means all of us are going to have either ourselves or a loved one need blood," said organizer Tiffany Ybarra.
As an effort to get more people to donate, Lifeshare offered some free incentives like a free shirt a free box combo from Canes, and a free delivery item from Waitr.