Red Cross offers $5 gift cards to blood donors during blood emergency

The Red Cross is offering a $5 Amazon gift card to everyone who comes in to give blood or platelets through Aug. 29.

The American Red Cross has declared an emergency blood shortage. They have less than a three-day supply of most blood types, and less than a two-day supply of type O blood, according to a spokesman.

Individuals may schedule an appointment at any of the mobile blood drives by going to www.redcrossblood.org, or by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, https://www.redcrossblood.org/blood-donor-app.html, or calling 1-800-RED-CROSS.

There is one Wyandotte County location during the gift card period through Aug. 29. The blood drive is from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 26 at the New Story Church, 5500 Woodend Ave., Kansas City, Kansas.

Donors also may donate blood at other locations in neighboring cities, which are listed at www.redcrossblood.org.