The winter months are traditionally a difficult time for blood donations. To help boost the blood supply heading into the holiday season, the Community Blood Bank kicked off the annual Holiday Heroes campaign.

The campaign is friendly competition between area first responders to see which department can bring in the most blood donations. The winners receive a sweet treat from Cafe 7-10.

Mayor Joe Schember, the Erie Fire Department and the City of Erie police attended the kick off event Monday. They're all looking to beat last year's winner, Pennsylvania State Police. Erie's Fire Chief, Leonard Trott, said campaigns like these are important for the community, as they know the need for donations first hand. "We see a lot of the trauma that creates the need for the blood. We're involved at the beginning, then they go to the hospital and they need blood to survive."

The Community Blood Bank said its blood supply is critically low at this time. Donations are also down due to the lake effect storm that hit Thanksgiving and lingered through the following week. Dee Rosenthal, the Executive Director of the Community Blood Bank, said they had to cancel 15 blood drives during that time and lost 400 donations.  

If you'd like to make a donation, the Community Blood Bank's Erie Donor Center is operating on extended hours. The center is is open until 6 p.m. Monday, and until 1 p.m. Christmas Eve.