As the winter months grow frostier, the University of Cincinnati's Hoxworth Blood Center is offering donors a free winter puffy jacket during the month of December.

Hoxworth is offering the thank you gift up until Dec 31, or up until supplies last, to anyone who donates blood or platelets.

Dr. David Oh, co-director of Hoxworth Blood Center, said that donating blood is a way to make a large impact during a short amount of time. Donating usually doesn't take more than an hour, according to the American Red Cross.

"You're not only supporting local patients in need but also helping to make a significant impact during a season that can be especially challenging for hospitals," Oh said in an email announcement from Hoxworth.

Hoxworth is the sole blood provider for hospitals in the Cincinnati area and beyond, according Hoxworth co-director Dr. Caroline Alquist,

Collecting more than 100,000 units of blood every year enables blood transfusions and transplants at over 30 hospitals across Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.

Blood donations often decrease during the holiday season for reasons that range from holiday travel and busy schedules to seasonal illnesses like the flu.

These factors make it more difficult for regular donors to make their donation appointments.

But blood remains a lifesaving resource.

Every two seconds in the U.S., someone needs blood, the American Red Cross reports. This could be a baby born prematurely, patients with cancer or chronic diseases, patients in need of an organ transplant or others.

Not only is blood a resource without a substitute, it also doesn't last forever: the shelf-life for a donation of one pint is 42 days.

So hospitals need a steady flow of blood donors at all times throughout the year in case of emergency.

Schedule your donation by visiting hoxworth.org, calling 513-451-0910 or downloading the organization's mobile app to find your nearest donor center or mobile drive.

You can visit any of Hoxworth's donor centers in Anderson, Blue Ash, Fort Mitchell, Clifton, West Chester, Tri-County or Western Hills.

All Hoxworth locations will be closed on Dec. 25.