The American Red Cross is holding blood drives in Middlesex County and urges blood donors to give in the final weeks of summer to help overcome a chronic summer blood shortage.
The blood drives will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 20 at the Presbyterian Social Center, 270 Woodbridge Ave., Metuchen; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Aug. 26 at the Trinity Episcopal Church, 650 Rahway Ave., Woodbridge, and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Aug. 27 at the Shirdi Sai Cultural and Community Center, 465 Lincoln Highway, Iselin.
Donors who donated blood earlier this summer may be eligible to donate again. Blood can be safely donated every 56 days, and Power Red cells can be donated every 112 days.
Those who come out to give blood or platelets with the Red Cross now through Aug. 31 will be emailed a $5 Target eGiftCard.
Appointments can be scheduled by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). To help reduce wait times, donors are encouraged to make appointments and complete the RapidPass online health history questionnaire at redcrossblood.org/RapidPass.