If your New Year’s resolutions included finding small ways to do good more frequently, the American Red Cross has some ideas for you. You — yes, you — are needed, right now.

A glance at the organization’s website reveals an alert that there is an “EMERGENCY NEED for type O blood” because winter weather has caused a decline in donations.

There’s even a pitch that if you donate by Jan. 4, you will receive a Red Cross long-sleeved t-shirt; and if you give blood before Jan. 31, you can earn points to be used toward rewards.

Local opportunities to give blood include Tuesday, Jan. 6, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Belmont County Veterans Service Office, Thursday Jan. 8, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Rolling Hills Rehabilitation Center, Monday, Jan. 12, from 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at Vance Memorial Presbyterian Church in Wheeling, Wednesday, Jan. 14 from 11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at Undo’s West Restaurant, Wednesday, Jan. 21 from 11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at Oglebay Park Resort’s Wilson Lodge and Monday, Jan. 26 from 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. at the Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack.

Generally speaking, donors can give blood approximately every 56 days, up to six times per year. Platelet donors can give every seven days, up to 24 times per year. And “AB elite plasma” donors can give every 28 days, up to 13 times a year.

On the other hand, there ARE some reasons a person cannot donate, or donate as frequently. Check the eligibility requirements here: redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/eligibility-requirements.html. There’s a good chance there’s nothing stopping you.

But the Red Cross does more than provide blood services. The organization also needs volunteers and financial donations. Human help is required for its disaster relief efforts, international work and the support it gives military families.

A person could do worse than deciding to make blood/blood product donation and support of the Red Cross a regular habit. Consider whether you are able to resolve to do just that.