Oakdale Community and the American Red Cross are hosting an upcoming blood drive. All those eligible are asked to join the lifesaving mission and schedule an appointment.

The blood drive is scheduled at the Royal and Charter Oak Rooms, 1425 W. H St., Oakdale on Saturday, July 27 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The need for blood is constant and only volunteer donors can fulfill that need for patients in our community. Nationwide, someone needs a unit of blood every two to three seconds and most of us will need blood in our lifetime.

Download the Red Cross Blood Donor App on the App Store, Google Play or text BLOODAPP to 90999. Schedule appointments, get rewards and invite friends to join you on a lifesaving team.

The blood donation process, including registration, a brief health screening, the donation and a rest period afterward in the canteen for refreshments, takes about an hour.