Red Cross blood drives in the county

The American Red Cross has an emergency need for blood and platelet donations for the summer shortage.

ONEIDA, N.Y. >> With many regular donors delaying giving to take final summer vacations and prepare for school to start, the American Red Cross has an emergency need for blood and platelet donations to help end a summer blood shortage.

While thousands of donors have rolled up a sleeve this summer, blood and platelet donations aren’t keeping pace with patient needs. More donations are urgently needed to replenish the blood supply and be prepared for patient emergencies.

Make an appointment to donate blood now by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood. org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device. 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 112 days. With the help of a generous

million donation from Amazon, the Red Cross is thanking those who help overcome the shortage by coming to give July 29 through Aug. 29 with a $ 5 Amazon. com Gift Card via email. (Restrictions apply; see amazon . com/ gc - legal . More i nformat i on and details are available at RedCrossBlood. org/Together.)

Upc oming blood donation opportunities include:

Madison County

• Friday, Aug. 16, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Cazenovia Public Library, 100 Albany St., Cazenovia

• Tuesday, Aug. 20, 1- 6 p.m. - St. Agatha’s Church, 329 N. Peterboro St., Canastota

• Tuesday, Aug. 20, 1- 6 p.m. - First Presbyterian Church Chittenango, 118 Arch St., Chittenango • Thursday, Aug. 22, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Peterboro United Methodist Church, 5240 Pleasant Valley Road, Peterboro

• Thu r s - day, Aug. 22, 10 a. m. to 4 p.m. - Madison County Employee Building 5, 138 N. Cour t St . , Wampsville

• Wednesday, Aug. 28, noon to 5 p.m. - Hamilton Public Library, 13 Broad St., Hamilton

• Thursday, Aug. 29, 1-6 p.m. - St. Joseph’s Church, 121 St. Joseph Place, Oneida

IMAGE PROVIDED Red Cross blood drives have been sceduled in Madison County.