SALISBURY — The American Red Cross will be holding its 36th annual Masonic Community Blood Drives from Jan. 8-17, and Rowan County will be included as one of the seven locations that will be hosting one of these blood drives.

Scheduled for Jan. 10 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., the blood drive will be held at the Salisbury Masonic Lodge, 401 N. Fulton St., Salisbury.

Additional area blood drives will be held at the following locations and times:

• North Iredell Masonic Lodge, Snow Creek 571, 558 Dobson Farm Road, Statesville, Jan. 8 from 1-6 p.m.
• Mooresville Masonic Lodge, Heritage House, 494 E. Plaza Dr., Mooresville, Jan. 9 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Statesville Masonic Lodge, Statesville Civic Center, 300 S. Center St., Statesville, Jan. 10 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Hickory Masonic Lodge, 30 Catawba Valley Blvd. SE, Hickory, Jan. 10 from 1-6 p.m.
• Lee Masonic 253 Lodge, Alexander County Senior Center, 730 7th St. SW, Taylorsville, Jan. 17 from 2:30-6:30 p.m.
• Denver Masonic Lodge, 3333 St. James Church Road, Denver, Jan. 17 from 1-6 p.m.

In a news release, the American Red Cross said that every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs donated blood, and one pint of donated blood can save up to three lives.

The annual Masonic Community Blood Drives are some of the largest in North Carolina.

“This drive was founded on the premise to create a community outreach that would impact the lives of our families, friends and neighbors,” said Duane Smyth, a member of the Masonic Community Blood Drive committee. “Some 36 years later, hundreds of mason volunteers and thousands of donors have saved tens of thousands of lives through this drive.”

All donors will receive a free commemorative T-shirt and fresh baked cookies, while supplies last.

To schedule an appointment, visit www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive and enter code ‘MASONIC’ or call (1-800-733-2767).