Red Cross Blood Drive

The American Red Cross is encouraging blood and platelet donations to help maintain a steady supply for patients in need. Blood donations often decline in October as people settle into fall routines, but the need for blood remains constant.

Those who donate blood, platelets, or plasma between September 22 and October 19 will receive a $10 Amazon.com gift card via email. Donors from Oct. 20 to Nov. 16 will receive a $10 e-gift card to a merchant of their choice and be entered for a chance to win one of three $5,000 gift cards.

Upcoming donation opportunities include:

Acushnet

Oct. 29: 12:15 to 4:15 p.m., Acushnet Council on Aging, 59½ S. Main St.

Fairhaven

Oct. 19: 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., St. Mary’s Church, 440 Main St.

Oct. 26: 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Trinity Lutheran Church, 16 Temple Pl.

Fall River

Oct. 28: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Atlantis Charter School, 991 Jefferson St. Ext.

New Bedford

Oct. 16: 1:30 to 6 p.m., Waypoint Event Center at Fairfield Inn, 185 MacArthur Drive.

Oct. 22: 2 to 6:30 p.m., Southcoast Health St. Luke’s White Home, 101 Page St.

Oct. 30: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., The Oaks, 4525 Acushnet Ave.

Appointments can be made at RedCrossBlood.org, by calling 1-800-RED CROSS, or through the Red Cross Blood Donor App.