As summer winds down, the American Red Cross urges individuals to give blood and platelets now and help end an emergency summer blood shortage that began last month.

A critical need remains as many regular donors delay giving to take final summer vacations and prepare for school to start. To ensure lifesaving treatments remain available for patients in the coming weeks, donations are needed now, especially type O.

In thanks for helping at this urgent time, all those who come to donate blood or platelets through Aug. 30 will receive a $5 Amazon.com gift card via email. (Restrictions apply; see amazon.com/gc-legal. More information and details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Together.)

Make an appointment to donate blood by downloading the free American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Those who donated blood earlier this summer may be eligible to give again. Blood can be safely given every 56 days, and Power Red donations can be given every 16 weeks.

China Grove

8/16/2018: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Angels at Heart, 1114 S. Main Street

Mount Ulla

8/22/2018: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., St. Lukes Lutheran Church Education Bldg., 11020 NC 801

Salisbury

8/17/2018: 11:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., Rowan County Rescue Squad, 1140 Julian Road

8/18/2018: 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Trading Ford Baptist Church, 3600 Long Ferry Road

8/22/2018: 12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Salisbury Business Center, 301 S. Main Street

8/26/2018: 12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Christiana Lutheran Church, 6190 Hwy 52

8/30/2018: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Stallings Memorial Baptist-Salisbury, 817 S. Main Street