As multiple catastrophes play out across the nation — the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the freezing cold weather and winter storms that have devastated Texas and other states — another drastic situation is slowly building: The Red Cross is in dire need of blood donations.

The organization has reported that because of the severe winter weather, its supply of donated blood and platelets has been reduced. Hundreds of blood drives in about 30 states have been canceled, resulting in more than 15,000 blood and platelet donations going uncollected.

Not surprisingly, there are concerns about whether the Red Cross has an adequate supply of blood products for emergency situations.

The organization is asking for healthy individuals — especially those with type O blood — to donate immediately.

During the past year, Americans have watched somewhat helplessly as hundreds of thousands of their fellow countrymen have succumbed to COVID-19. On Monday, the national death toll surpassed 500,000. In recent weeks, they have watched news reports of suffering caused by winter storms in places that typically don’t get freezing weather or heavy snowfall.

Many people want to help, but often don’t know what they can do to be of assistance. This is their chance.

To make an appointment to give blood, visit the Red Cross’s blood donor website at RedCrossBlood.org or call 800-733-2767.

There are several blood drives in Butler County on the horizon: noon to 6 p.m. March 1 at the Mars VFW, noon to 5:30 p.m. March 3 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Cranberry Township, 1 to 6 p.m. March 8 at Grace Church of Harmony, 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. March 9 at the Cranberry Elks Lodge and noon to 5:30 p.m. March 12 at Days Inn by Wyndham Butler Conference Center.

Donors will be tested for COVID-19 antibodies and will receive results within one to two weeks after the donation.

The upcoming drives are a great way for county residents to lend a helping hand to those in need. At this moment, there are a lot of people in our county and across the nation who fall into this category.

— NCD