What’s in store for your summer? The usual family vacation? Spending more time with the kids  Or, simply getting outside to enjoy some sunshine?

Make summer truly extraordinary by visiting an American Red Cross blood donor center or blood drive. In about an hour, you can turn a typical summer day into an extraordinary gift for a patient in need. A single donation can help save up to three lives. And that is no ordinary summer activity.

Locally, you may give blood on one of the following dates:

• Friday, July 1, from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Wal-Mart Supercenter located at 120 Sam Walton Drive in Russellville.

• Sunday, July 3, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Pleasant Union General Baptist Church located at 5529 Deerlick Road in Lewisburg.

• Wednesday, July 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Daymar College located at 160 Shelton Lane in Russellville.

As an extra incentive this summer, anyone who presents to donate blood with the Red Cross between July 1 and Sept. 5 is automatically entered into a drawing for a $250 gas card. On the July 4 and Labor Day weekends, anyone presenting to donate Friday through Monday is automatically entered into a drawing for a $1,000 gas card.

The need for blood never takes a holiday. In the Tennessee Valley Region, 600 donations are needed every day to maintain a safe and adequate supply for local patients.

The Red Cross empowers ordinary people to be extraordinary by giving blood. Call 1-800-RED CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org to schedule your donation appointment today.

How to Donate Blood:

Call 1-800-RED CROSS or log on to www.redcrossblood.org for more information or to schedule a blood donation appointment. All blood types are needed to ensure the Red Cross maintains an adequate blood supply. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Donors must be in general good health, weigh at least 110 pounds and be at least 17 years old (16 with completed Parental Consent Form). New height and weight restrictions apply to donors younger than 19. Visit redcrossblood.org to learn more.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.