With summer vacation still on, the Red Cross is facing an emergency blood shortage. The reason is two-fold, as many schools are on vacation, so fewer blood drives take place. Plus, lots of donors are off at the beach or up in the mountains. These are well-deserved breaks, but patient need remains constant.

Upcoming opportunities to give blood in the local area have been scheduled over the next couple of weeks.

They include: Thursday, Aug. 9, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Gene Bianchi Community Center, 110 S. Second Ave., Oakdale; Tuesday, Aug. 14, noon to 6 p.m., Fire Station #26, 3318 Topeka St., Riverbank; and Tuesday, Aug. 14, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., Christian Reformed Church, 2203 California St., Escalon.

Donors who come in to donate during a special promotional time frame, running through Thursday, Aug. 30 are eligible to receive a $5 Amazon gift card. Limit one per presenting whole blood donor. Instructions on how to claim your gift card will be sent to the email address provided on your donor record approximately 30 days after the donation.