The American Red Cross encourages blood donors to help prevent a summer shortage by rolling up a sleeve to give. Donors of all blood types are urged to schedule an appointment now, especially those with types O negative, B negative and A negative.

Type O negative is universal and can likely be transfused to anyone who needs blood. Types A negative and B negative can be transfused to patients with either Rh positive or negative blood. These blood types are the most in demand and the first to run out if there is a shortage.

To encourage more people to make time to donate blood before and after Independence Day, all presenting blood donors from June 30 through July 7 will receive a commemorative Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last.

The Red Cross must collect 15,000 blood donations every day to meet the needs of patients at 2,700 hospitals and transfusion centers across the country. To learn more and make an appointment to donate blood and help save lives, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Upcoming blood donation opportunities:

Kosciusko County

• Wednesday, July 2, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Martin’s Supermarket, 1150 Husky Trail, Warsaw.
• Tuesday, July 8, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Center Lake Pavilion, 117 Canal St., Warsaw.

Elkhart County

Wednesday, July 2, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer ELCA, 3300 Benham Ave., Elkhart.
Thursday, July 3, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Das Dutchman Essenhaus Conference Center, 240 U.S. 20, Middlebury.
Monday, July 7, from 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Northside Baptist Church, 53198 CR 9, Elkhart.
Friday, July 11, from noon to 6 p.m. at Clinton Frame Mennonite Church, 63846 CR 35, Goshen.
Saturday, July 12, from 8 a.m. to noon at Yellow Creek Mennonite Church, 64901 CR 11, Goshen.
Monday, July 14, from noon to 6 p.m. at Believers Fellowship Church, 60781 SR 13 in Goshen.
Tuesday, July 15, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Sunnyside Park, 68546 S. Clinton, New Paris.

The Goshen Donor Center, located at 1123 S. Indiana Ave. in Goshen, accepts donors from noon to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Marshall County

Wednesday, July 2, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Bremen Missionary Church, 2958 Elm Rd, Bremen.
Thursday, July 3, from noon to 5:30 p.m. at Argos United Methodist Church, 540 N. Michigan St., Argos.
Saturday, July 12, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Indiana National Guard Armory, 1220 W. Madison St., Plymouth.

St. Joseph County

Wednesday, July 2, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Lincoln Township Community Building, 3098 S. 800 E. (Fish Lake), Walkerton.
Thursday, July 3, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Culver’s South Bend, 4402 S. Michigan Ave., South Bend.
Sunday, July 6, from noon to 4 p.m. at Family Video, 1315 Milburn St., Mishawaka.

How to donate blood

Simply call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information. 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.