Blood donations are urgently needed, according to the American Red Cross.
Two blood drives will be coming up next week in the area, according to the Red Cross.
They include from 3 to 7 p.m. Aug. 20 at the Elm Grove Baptist Church, 15774 Linwood Road, Bonner Springs; and 1 to 6 p.m. Aug. 26 at the New Story Church, 5500 Woodend Ave., Kansas City, Kansas.
Blood donations will help end a summer blood shortage, according to a Red Cross spokesman.
Donors also may give blood at Red Cross blood centers. For a list of mobile blood drives and other opportunities to give blood, visit www.redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767). There also is a Red Cross blood donor app available.
Those who come to a blood drive to give blood to the Red Cross from July 29 through Aug. 29 will receive a $5 Amazon.com gift card via email, that is good toward purchases on Amazon.com. Amazon has given a $1 million donation to the Red Cross.