Besides feeling good about helping others, people who donate blood to the Red Cross next Saturday will receive a coupon for free tax preparation from Liberty Tax Services. The blood donations will be taken from 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus, 254 Hancock St. According to information provided by the Red Cross, every two seconds someone in the United States needs blood, and the Northeast states currently have a particular need for Type O negative and Type O positive. Type AB plasma is also always in demand because it can be used in transfusions for all other blood types. Walk-ins are welcome, but donors who have made an appointment will be taken first. The entire process of paperwork and a quick health check takes a bit over an hour, with about 10 minutes involving blood-drawing. To make an appointment to donate blood for this specific drive or in the future, call 800-733-2767 or visit redcrossblood.org for more information. - Constance Lindner