The American Red Cross has launched a campaign for blood donors in order to avoid a summer shortage.<br />
<br />
Donors of all blood types are needed but especially those with types O negative, B negative and A negative. (LifeSouth issued a similar plea for blood earlier this month.)<br />
<br />
To encourage donations before and after July 4, all presenting blood donors from June 30 through July 7 will receive a commemorative Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last. <br />
<br />
The Red Cross says it must collect 15,000 blood donations every day to meet the needs of patients at 2,700 hospitals and transfusion centers across the country. <br />
<br />
Upcoming blood donation opportunities in northeast Georgia: <br />
<br />
June 30 from 1-5 p.m. at Walmart, 250 Furniture Drive, Cornelia <br />
June 30 from 1-6 p.m. at Kroger, 1685 Old Pendergrass Road, Jefferson<br />
June 30 from 12-6 p.m. at Saint Matthew Catholic Church, 25 Wilkins Road SW, Winder <br />
June 30 from 2-7 p.m. at Lexington Baptist Church Family Ministry, 103 West Church Street, Lexington <br />
July 1 from 1-6 p.m. at Social Circle United Methodist Church, 261 S. Cherokee Road, Social Circle <br />
July 1 from 12:30-5:30 p.m. at The National Guard, 1078 Baxter Street, Athens <br />
July 1 from 2-6 p.m. at Hull Baptist Church, 73 Charlie Bolton Road, Hull <br />
July 1 from 2-7 p.m. at Sterling on the Lake Clubhouse, 7005 Sterling Blvd., Flowery Branch <br />
July 1 from 2-7 p.m. at The Georgia Club, 1050 Chancellors Drive, Statham <br />
July 2 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Habersham County Medical Center, 541 Highway 441 North, Demorest <br />
July 3 from 1-5 p.m. at Walmart, 3886 Georgia Highway 17 South, Toccoa <br />
July 3 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. ARMC Medical Services Building, 1199 Prince Avenue, Athens <br />
July 3 from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. at Northside Hospital, 1200 Northside Forsyth Drive, Cumming <br />
July 4 from 12-5 p.m. at Mall of Georgia, 3333 Buford Drive, Buford <br />
July 7 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Epting Events, 2425 Jefferson Road, Athens<br />
July 7 from 12:30-5:30 p.m. at Campus View Church of Christ, 1360 South Lumpkin Street, Athens <br />
July 7 from 2-7 p.m. at Bethel United Methodist Church, 10 Lumpkin Campground Road South, Dawsonville<br />
<br />
How to donate blood <br />
<br />
Call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an <br />
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. <br />
High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements. <br />
