By VINCE ROBINSON
Communications Manager, American Red Cross

There are 100 days of summer and the American Red Cross urges eligible donors to choose their day to give blood and help ensure a sufficient blood supply.

Summer is a difficult time to collect enough blood to meet patient needs. Nearly 90 percent of donors surveyed this past spring said they planned to take a vacation this summer, potentially making them less available to give. In addition, many schools that host blood drives are out of session during the summer. But the need for blood donations is constant. Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood.

Donors of all blood types – especially those with types O negative, A negative and B negative – are needed. The Red Cross must collect 15,000 blood donations every day to meet the needs of patients at approximately 2,600 hospitals and transfusion centers nationwide.

To make an appointment to give blood, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call (800) 733-2767.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities:

Elkhart County

2 p.m. until 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 23, Benton Mennonite Church, 15350 CR 44, Goshen.
Noon until 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 23, Maranatha Fellowship Church, 9639 W. Hepton Road, Nappanee.
Noon until 6 p.m. Friday, June 26, Clinton Frame Mennonite Church, 63846 CR 35, Goshen.

Kosciusko County

2 p.m. until 6 p.m. Friday, June 19, Mentone United Methodist Church, 116 E. Main St., Mentone.
8 a.m. until 1 p.m. Friday, June 19, Lake City University People Development, 109 S. Buffalo, Warsaw.
9 a.m until 1 p.m. Saturday, June 20, YMCA, 1305 Mariners Drive, Warsaw.
11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Thursday, June 25, Milford Community Building, 111 S. Main St., Milford.
Noon until 6 p.m. Thursday, June 25, Calvary United Methodist Church, 801 S. Huntington, Syracuse.
Noon until 5 p.m. Saturday, June 27, Culver’s, 852 N. Parker St., Warsaw.

LaGrange County

11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 16, Maple Grove Church, 806 S. Main St., Topeka.
10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Saturday, June 20, Lakeland High School, 0805 E. 075 N., LaGrange

Marshall County

2 p.m. until 6 p.m. Friday, June 26, Burger King, 2021 N. Michigan St., Plymouth.
2 p.m. until 7 p.m. Monday, June 29, Southwire, 515 Copperfield Way, Bremen.
1:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 29, Indiana Fallen Officer Blood Drive, Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, 1400 N. Pioneer Drive, Plymouth.

The Goshen Donor Center

Located at 1123 S. Indiana Ave., Goshen. Open noon to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

How to donate blood

Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call (800) 733-2767 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.