This is the season of giving, and a busy, expensive, time-consuming season it can be.

But have you considered giving something that costs you nothing except time, and will in return give others the gift of time?

Heather Robbins is the blood donor recruiter for the Eastern Maine Medical Center Blood Donor program in Bangor.

She e-mailed me to let readers know that “the blood supply is critically low right now,” and that the EMMC Blood Donor Program is “asking people to give the gift of life this holiday season.”

She pointed out that “each donation can save up to three lives,” and that “all of the blood we collect stays right here in Maine.”

And there’s a very special offer to make this plea even more attractive.

Robbins explained that “everyone who donates with us, in the month of December, can enter a drawing for a lobster dinner for two from MaineLobsterDirect.com.”

The winner receives two medium lobsters, clam chowder, clams or mussels, red potatoes or corn, a shell cracker, seafood picks, lemon and butter, all packed in a blue enamel lobster pot.

Robbins asks those willing to donate to bring a photo ID and to drink plenty of fluids before donating.

After your donation, you will be given snacks, drinks and an appreciation gift.

Donation hours and sites are 9 a.m.-3 p.m. today, in Mason Auditorium at EMMC in Bangor; 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15, at the Cianchette Building in Brewer; 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16, at OHI in Hermon; 2-7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 19, at Milford Fire Department; 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20, at Veazie Veterinary Clinic; and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 21, at Shaw’s, 46 Springer Drive in Bangor.

Donors can also call 262-8797 or visit the center at 992 Union St. to make an appointment to donate.

Just when you’re about to host one of your major

fundraisers, what you don’t need is a major problem.

But a major problem is what Roberta “Bobbie” Fowler faced Tuesday when she went into the Bangor Mall to double-check on plans for The Animal Orphanage of Old Town to host its craft and regifting sale there on Saturday, and was told the mall’s Community Booth is no longer operating.

Although the person Bobbie spoke with was sure all representatives of organizations who had booked an event there had been notified the Bangor Mall Community Booth no longer exists, somehow that information did not make its way to The Animal Orphanage.

“I’ve really had to do some scrambling today,” Bobbie told me Tuesday afternoon, “but we found another place.”

The Animal Orphanage Craft and ReGifting Sale will now be 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, at the Old Town-Orono YMCA, 501 Stillwater Ave. in Old Town.

I know Bobbie is extremely grateful to the YMCA staff for being so accommodating on such short notice, but I also know she is very concerned this last-minute site change will have an adverse effect on the outcome of the sale.

As you read in Tuesday’s column, Bobbie had written The Animal Orphanage is another local, nonprofit organization that “has had a noticeable drop in donations since the Katrina disaster,” which means your financial support is even more important this year.

So, to those of you who planned to do a little holiday shopping while helping out The Animal Orphanage on Saturday, I hope you will make your way the Old Town-Orono YMCA, where friends of The Animal Orphanage will be eagerly waiting to serve you.

John Marko is general manager of America’s Best Inn & Suites at 570 Main St. in Bangor.

This hotel, across the street from the Paul Bunyan statue, is one many of you may remember as the former Penobscot Inn.

Marko reports now through Saturday, Dec. 31, America’s Best Inn & Suites is conducting its Coats for Christmas campaign, an annual drive to help keep needy members of our communities warm during the winter season.

The local program is part of a nationwide campaign.

I spoke with Marko this week, and he mentioned that since many people in Maine are familiar with the WLBZ-2 and WCSH-6 Coats for Kids campaign, he thought it would be a good idea to check with the folks at WLBZ-2 in Bangor to see if this campaign could help that one.

As a result, while this is a separate Coats for Christmas campaign, Marko said all coats collected at America’s Best Inn and & Suites in Bangor will be given to the WLBZ-2 and WCSH-6 campaign.

For more information about donating to the America Best Inn Coats for Christmas campaign, visit the hotel or call Marko at 942-1234.

Joni Averill, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402; 990-8288.