The American Red Cross encourages eligible blood donors to make and keep donation appointments to maintain the summer blood supply and help prevent a shortage. Donors of all blood types are currently needed, especially those with type O negative, B negative and A negative.

While the need for blood remains constant during the summer, donations drop. Between June and August, on average, two fewer donors give blood at each Red Cross blood drive than what hospitals need. This seasonal decline could be overcome if just two additional donors — above what is expected — give blood at each Red Cross blood drive this summer.

This summer, there are 100 chances to give hope with the Red Cross by giving blood. Visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS to learn more and make an appointment.

Upcoming local and area blood donation opportunities:

Kosciusko County

• Friday, June 20, from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. at the Mentone United Methodist Church, 116 E. Main St. in Mentone.
• Friday, June 20, from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Lake City University People Development Center, 109 S. Buffalo St., Warsaw.
• Tuesday, June 24, from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. at North Webster Church of God, 302 N. Main St., North Webster.
• Wednesday, June 25, from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Camp Creek Church of the Brethren, 7486 N. SR 19, Etna Green.
• Saturday, June 28, from noon until 5 p.m. at Culver’s, 852 N. Parker St., Warsaw.

Elkhart County

• Monday, June 16, from noon until 6 p.m. at the First Mennonite Church, 203 E. Lawrence, Middlebury.
• Tuesday, June 24, from noon until 6 p.m. at Marantha Fellowship Church, 9639 W. Hepton Rd., Nappanee.
• Friday, June 27, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Nappanee Police/EMS, located at 301 W. Lincoln St.
• Monday, June 30, from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 1011 S. Indiana Ave. in Goshen.
• Goshen Donor Center, 1123 S. Indiana Ave. in Goshen, is open from noon to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday; and from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Marshall County

• Monday, June 16, from 1:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. at the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office/Jail, 1400 N. Pioneer Dr., Plymouth. This will be a Fallen Officers Blood Drive.
• Thursday, June 19, from 11:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus, 901 E. Jefferson St., Plymouth.
• Saturday, June 21, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Coffee Lodge & Bakery, 225 E. Jefferson St., Plymouth.
• Monday, June 23, from 1 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. at Bourbon Christian School, 1325 N. Main St., Bourbon.
• Monday, June 23, from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. at LifePlex, 2855 Miller Dr., Plymouth.

St. Joseph County

• Monday, June 23, from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. at Quality Dining Inc., 4220 Edison Lakes Parkway, Mishawaka.

Every two seconds someone in the United States needs blood. Recently, a patient needed 79 blood products after injuries sustained during a car accident. Thanks to blood donors who gave in the days and weeks prior, blood products were readily available for this patient and thousands of others at approximately 2,700 hospitals and transfusion centers across the country supported by the Red Cross.
Call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information.

All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.