The American Red Cross is counting on volunteer donors to give blood and help ensure patient needs can be met this summer.

Around Memorial Day, the Red Cross sees a steep decline in blood donations. Busy summer schedules, vacations and school breaks also cause a drop in donations. Accidents and medical emergencies don’t take a summer break — patients need blood every minute, every day.

The public is asked to schedule an appointment to help ensure that hospitals and patients have the blood they need this summer. Make an appointment to donate blood by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

In thanks, all those who come to donate blood or platelets now through June 10, will receive a $5 Amazon.com Gift Card via email, courtesy of Suburban Propane. (Restrictions apply; see amazon.com/gc-legal. More information and details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Together.)

 Upcoming blood donation opportunities  

Bloomington

May 30: 12:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Eastland Mall, Eastland Mall, Veteran’s Parkway & Route 9

June 1: 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Moose Lodge, 614 IAA Drive

June 1: 11:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., Hansen Student Center, 300 Beecher St.

June 2: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., YWCA, 1201 N Hershey Road

June 4: 1:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Moose Lodge, 614 IAA Drive

June 6: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., The Chateau, Jumer Drive at Veterans Parkway

June 6: 12:30 p.m. – 5 p.m., Grossinger Arena, 101 S. Madison Street

June 7: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., The Chateau, Jumer Drive at Veterans Parkway

June 8: 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Moose Lodge, 614 IAA Drive

June 8: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Law and Justice Center, 104 West Front St.

June 11: 1:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Moose Lodge, 614 IAA Drive

June 15: 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Moose Lodge, 614 IAA Drive

June 15: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Clemens Insurance, 2806 E. Empire St.

June 16: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Northside Church, Northside Church, 1908 North Towanda-Barnes Road

June 18: 1:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Moose Lodge, 614 IAA Drive

June 19: 7 a.m. – 11 a.m., Parke Regency Hotel & Conference Center, Parke Regency Hotel and Conference Center, 1413 Leslie Drive

June 21: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Second Presbyterian Church, 404 N. Prairie St.

June 22: 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Moose Lodge, 614 IAA Drive

June 22: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., Four Seasons II, 2401 Airport Road

June 22: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., YWCA, 1201 N. Hershey Road

Normal

May 31: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, 201 Broadway Avenue

Chillicothe

June 8: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., Pearce Community Center, 610 W. Cedar St

June 20: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Heritage Health Chillicothe, 1028 W. Hillcrest

Dunlap

June 22: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Prospect United Methodist Church, 300 E. Ash

Peoria

May 30: 7 a.m. – 1 p.m., Peoria Blood Donation Center, 405 West John H Gwynn Jr Ave.

May 30: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Northwoods Mall, 2200 W War Memorial Drive

All those who come to donate blood or platelets through the American Red Cross now through June 10, will receive a $5 Amazon.com Gift Card via email. (Photo courtesy of American Red Cross)

May 31: 7 a.m. – 12 p.m., Unitypoint Health – Methodist, 221 NE Glen Oak

May 31: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m., Unity Point Health – Methodist, 221 NE Glen Oak

June 1: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Peoria County Courthouse, 324 Main Street

June 1: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Peoria Blood Donation Center, 405 West John H Gwynn Jr. Ave.

June 2: 7 a.m. – 1 p.m., Peoria Blood Donation Center, 405 West John H Gwynn Jr. Ave.

June 5: 7 a.m. – 11 a.m., OSF St Francis Medical Center, 530 NE Glen Oak

June 5: 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., OSF St Francis Medical Center, 530 NE Glen Oak

June 5: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Peoria Blood Donation Center, 405 West John H Gwynn Jr. Ave.

June 6: 7 a.m. – 1 p.m., Peoria Blood Donation Center, 405 West John H Gwynn Jr. Ave.

June 8: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Peoria Blood Donation Center, 405 West John H Gwynn Jr. Ave.

June 9: 7 a.m. – 1 p.m., Peoria Blood Donation Center, 405 West John H Gwynn Jr. Ave.

June 9: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., First Church of the Nazarene, 5504 N. University

June 12: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Peoria Blood Donation Center, 405 West John H Gwynn Jr. Ave.

June 13: 7 a.m. – 1 p.m., Peoria Blood Donation Center, 405 West John H Gwynn Jr. Ave.

June 13: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Center For Information Management, 9600 N. Franciscan Drive, Rte. 91

June 15: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Peoria Blood Donation Center, 405 West John H Gwynn Jr. Ave.

June 16: 7 a.m. – 1 p.m., Peoria Blood Donation Center, 405 West John H Gwynn Jr. Ave.

June 19: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Peoria Blood Donation Center, 405 West John H Gwynn Jr. Ave.

June 20: 7 a.m. – 1 p.m., Peoria Blood Donation Center, 405 West John H Gwynn Jr. Ave.

June 21: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Remax Traders Unlimited, 3622 N Knoxville Ave.

June 22: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Peoria Blood Donation Center, 405 West John H Gwynn Jr. Ave.

June 22: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Carver Center, 710 W 3rd St.

June 22: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Northwoods Mall, 2200 W War Memorial Drive

June 23: 7 a.m. – 1 p.m., Peoria Blood Donation Center, 405 West John H Gwynn Jr. Ave.

Peoria Heights

June 20: 11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Forest Park Nature Center, 5809 N. Forest Park Drive

East Peoria

June 9: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., St. Monica’s Catholic Church, 303 Campanile Drive

June 13: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Par-A-Dice Hotel, 21 Blackjack Blvd.

Mackinaw

June 12: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., New Castle Bible Church, 17931 Dee Mack Road

Morton

June 11: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Morton United Methodist Church, 420 N. Tennessee Ave.

June 11: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Apostolic Christian Church Fellowship Hall, 2201 Veterans Road

Pekin

May 30: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Pekin Moose Lodge, 2605 Broadway   P.O. Box 962

June 1: 6:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., Unity Point Health – Pekin, Court and 14th Street

June 12: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., First Baptist Church, 700 South Capitol St.

June 21: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 1315 Court St.

June 23: 7 a.m. – 11 a.m., Pekin Moose Lodge, 2605 Broadway   P.O. Box 962

Washington

June 18: 12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Five Points Washington, 360 N. Wilmor

Eureka

June 18: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., St. Luke’s Catholic Church, 904 E. Reagan Drive

Goodfield

June 4: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Apostolic Christian Church, 209 W. Robinson

Roanoke

June 18: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., United Methodist Church, 401 N. Church St.

How to donate blood

Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) 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 in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), 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.

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass^® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.