Photo by Deb Gau Marsha Culhane brought along a book to read as she donated blood Wednesday during a blood drive at the Red Baron Arena. Wednesday’s blood drive is one of several planned in the Marshall area in the coming week

MARSHALL — Earlier this summer, the American Red Cross put out a call for Americans to donate blood, and help with a nationwide shortage. A couple of months later, the need is still strong.

“The Red Cross is continuing to see a critical need for blood,” said Sue Thesenga, regional communications manager for the Red Cross Minnesota and Dakotas Region. Factors like an increased need for blood in hospitals mean it’s still important to donate.

In recent months, there has been a 12% increase in the amount of blood products going to hospitals compared to last year, Thesenga said. While there are a variety of factors that affect the blood shortage, Thesenga said one important factor is that hospitals have begun doing more surgeries again, a year after COVID-19 put a lot of medical procedures on hold.

People in the Marshall area will have a number of opportunities to sign up for a blood donation appointment over the next few weeks. According to the American Red Cross’s blood services website, there are several blood drives planned in Marshall, as well as in other area communities.

On Wednesday, donors were steadily coming in for blood drive appointments at the Red Baron Arena. The drive was sponsored by the Marshall High School girls’ hockey team, and hockey players volunteered to help check people in at the door, and get water and snacks for donors.

The girls had wanted to do a project that got them out into the community, said Tonya Ormberg. The blood drive “worked out perfect,” she said.

Other upcoming local blood drives include drives at the Marshall-Lyon County Library this afternoon, and drives at locations including First Lutheran Church in Marshall and the Lyon County Government Center in September.

Thesenga said COVID-19 has changed some blood drive procedures. People now need to sign up for a blood donation appointment ahead of time, she said.

“We do appointments for the safety of our donors and staff,” to avoid crowding, she said. The change has also had some other benefits — the Red Cross has a better idea of how many staff and how much supplies will be needed at each blood drive.

Blood drives may still be able to do some walk-in donations, if another blood donor’s appointment has been canceled, Thesenga said. However, the best way to make sure you can donate is by making an appointment. Donors can go to www.redcrossblood.org, calling 1-800-RED-CROSS, or downloading the Red Cross blood donor phone app to find out about local blood drives.

Upcoming Marshall blood drives:

Thursday, Aug. 26: Marshall-Lyon County Library

Sept. 7: First Lutheran Church in Marshall

Sept. 13: First Lutheran Church in Marshall

Sept. 14: Lyon Co. Government Center

Sept. 15: St. Stephen Lutheran Church

Sept. 21: KB’s Bar and Grill in Ghent

Sept. 24: Marshall Fire Department