Every two seconds, someone needs blood. Patients throughout our area are counting on the American Red Cross and generous sponsors and donors to make sure blood is available whenever it is needed.

We currently have an urgent need for all blood types, especially O positive, A positive, O negative and A negative. Please give blood soon at one of the following Surry County blood drives:

7-25: Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital, 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.;

7-28: Pilot Mtn. First UMC, sponsored by VFW Ladies Auxiliary, 1 - 5:30 p.m.;

7-29: Mt. Airy Rotary Club at Surry County American Red Cross, 1:30 - 6 p.m.;

7-31: G&B Energy, in Memory of Joshua Frost, leukemia patient and son of employee Donald Frost, 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.;

8-4: Surry County American Red Cross, sponsored by The Mount Airy News, 1:30 - 6 p.m.;

8-6: Piney Grove Baptist Church (Old 601), 3:30 - 8 p.m.;

8-8: Mount Airy Wal-Mart, 12:30 - 5 p.m.;

8-17: Bannertown Baptist Church, 1 - 5:30 p.m.;

8-18: Elkin Rescue Squad, sponsored by Yadkin Valley Rotary, 2 - 6:30 p.m.;

8-20: "Beef UP the Blood Supply" at Mount Airy Elks Lodge, 2 - 6:30 p.m.;

8-21: Surry County Government Center (Dobson), 11:30 am - 4 p.m.;

8-24: Holy Cross Missionary Baptist Church (Beulah), 1 - 5:30 p.m.;

8-27: Elkin First UMC, 3 - 7:30 p.m.;

8-27: Fellowship Baptist Church (Ararat, NC), 3 - 7:30 p.m.;

8-31: Woodland Baptist Church (Mount Airy), 12 - 4:30 p.m.

8-31: Mountain View Baptist Church (Lowgap), 1 - 5:30 p.m.;

8-31: Flat Rock Baptist Church, 9:30 am - 2 p.m.

Blood donors must be 17 years of age, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in good health on the day of donating blood. Donors should drink plenty of water, avoid caffeine, eat iron rich foods, and eat well before donating. If you have any questions concerning your eligibility to donate or if you would like to schedule an appointment, please call the Surry County Red Cross at: 786-4183.

You can also help make sure the blood supply continues adequate inventory levels by sponsoring a blood drive on weekdays or weekends. Churches, civic organizations, and businesses are needed as blood drive sponsors to bring in more blood donors every month! If your organization would like to sponsor a blood drive, please call the Surry County Red Cross at: 786-4183.