Canadian Blood Services says its holiday collection campaign in Newfoundland and Labrador, which wrapped up on New Year's Eve, has been a success.

Close to 2,500 pints of blood have been collected across the province since Nov. 15.

December has usually been one of the most difficult months to attract blood donors, so in 2012, Canadian Blood Services tried to tackle the problem with a new approach.

'We are very pleased.'—Dana Meadus, Canadian Blood Services

The group used social media to post photos of donors dedicating their gift to someone.

Dana Meadus, the community development co-ordinator with Canadian Blood Services in St. John's, said the strategy worked.

"We've reached 92 per cent of our target during this campaign so we are very pleased and very happy with it," said Meadus.

Mother of young blood recipient issues challenge

Olivia Reardon, aged three, was one of the public faces of the holiday miracle campaign.

She has Pearson syndrome, a rare blood disorder, and her condition has been treated by regular blood transfusions.

Reardon is now healthy, but her mother, Colleen Kennedy, issued a challenge to all recent blood donors.

"Everybody new that came into the clinic over the campaign, if they could take just one new friend [to donate blood]. That should be something that we should work on in the New Year," said Kennedy.

Canadian Blood Services clinics will be closed New Year's Day, but they will open again with regular hours on Wednesday.