The American Red Cross is calling for additional donor support during several blood donation events it is hosting in the region next week.

According to the Red Cross, more blood is needed this summer due to a dip in blood inventory caused by hospitals resuming surgical procedures. As of Monday, all units of blood will be tested for the presence of COVID-19 antibodies.

Upcoming regional blood drives include:

- June 23 — noon to 5:30 p.m. at Butler’s Kelly Chevrolet Cadillac, 252 Pittsburgh Road

- June 24 — 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Miller & Sons Chevrolet Buick, 3107 Green Garden Road in Aliquippa

- June 26 — 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at New Castle’s Preston GM Superstore, 3510 Wilmington Road.

Donors who donate in June are eligible to receive a $5 Amazon Gift Card in the mail. Appointments can be made by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org, calling 1-800-733-2767 or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.

Changes in eligibility for donors include reduced deferral periods for transmission risks associated with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s HIV policy from 12 months to three months, reduced deferral periods for those with recent tattoos and piercings done in non-regulated states from 12 months to three months, a change in deferral period for travel to malaria-endemic areas from 12 months to three months and simplified deferrals for individuals previously considered to have been exposed to a potential risk of transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease or Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease.

For more information, contact the Donor and Client Support Center at 866-236-3276 for more information about eligibility.