Okotoks residents have the chance to give the gift that can't be bought this Christmas by donating blood.

There's a greater need for blood donations this year with 100,000 new donors needed before the end of March.

"Take time to give life by donating blood this holiday season, to hospital patients and their family there's no better gift you can give and Canadian patients should have holiday joy of their own," she says. "So many of them rely on the generosity of blood donors so we're really hoping that the Okotoks community will step up to help us support our hospital patients."

The increase for the need of donors is partially due to new iron eligibility guidelines.

Castro says the new guidelines mean a change in donation frequency for women.

"The eligibility is going to be changing from an eight week eligibility period to 12 weeks instead, so female donors will have the opportunity to give every 12 weeks rather than every eight weeks just to make sure their iron levels are nice and strong."

In March, men donating will be required to have higher hemoglobin levels.

A blood donation clinic is scheduled in Okotoks on Dec. 29 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

To schedule a donation time click here.