Before leaving the city for summer vacation, American Red Cross urges eligible donors to roll up a sleeve and donate blood to supply patients in need.

Donors of all types are needed to help accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients and those receiving cancer treatments.

More than 1.69 million people are expected to be diagnosed with cancer in 2017, according to American Cancer Society. Many of them will need blood, sometimes daily, during their chemotherapy treatments.

Giving blood is also an easy and thoughtful way to honor a loved one who relies on blood products. Kenneth Reed gives blood in honor of his son Trace, who underwent heart surgery and received blood transfusions when he was 8 days old.

“It’s the least I can do,” he said in a statement. “If it wasn’t for donors, he wouldn’t be here with us today. […]I don’t call it donating blood. I call it donating life.”

Those who donate between May 26 and May 30 will receive a Red Cross-branded visor, while supplies last.

Donors also have the chance to win one of three prize packages for four to Knotts Berry Farm in Buena Park or Cedar Point in Ohio.

Appointments can be set up by donating the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting the American Red Cross website here or calling 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

You can donate blood at the following dates, times and locations:

  • 5/26/2017: 8:15AM to 2:30PM, American Red Cross Greater Long Beach Chapter, 3150 East 29th Street
  • 5/27/2017: 7:45AM to 2:00PM, American Red Cross Greater Long Beach Chapter
  • 5/28/2017: 8:00AM to 2:00PM, Grace, 3601 Linden Avenue
  • 5/29/2017: 7:00AM to 7:00PM, American Red Cross Greater Long Beach Chapter
  • 5/31/2017: 12:45PM to 7:00PM, American Red Cross Greater Long Beach Chapter
  • 6/2/2017: 12:00PM to 6:00PM, Little Owl Preschool, 3426 Linden Avenue
  • 6/2/2017: 8:15AM to 2:30PM, American Red Cross Greater Long Beach Chapter
  • 6/3/2017: 7:45AM to 2:00PM, American Red Cross Greater Long Beach Chapter
  • 6/5/2017: 12:45PM to 7:00PM, American Red Cross Greater Long Beach Chapter
  • 6/7/2017: 12:45PM to 7:00PM, American Red Cross Greater Long Beach Chapter
  • 6/9/2017: 8:15AM to 2:30PM, American Red Cross Greater Long Beach Chapter
  • 6/10/2017: 7:45AM to 2:00PM, American Red Cross Greater Long Beach Chapter
  • 6/11/2017: 8:00AM to 2:00PM, St Barnabas Catholic Church, 3955 Orange Avenue
  • 6/12/2017: 12:45PM to 7:00PM, American Red Cross Greater Long Beach Chapter
  • 6/12/2017: 9:00AM to 3:00PM, Healthcare Partners, 2699 Atlantic Avenue
  • 6/13/2017: 8:00AM to 8:00PM, St Mary Medical Center, 1050 Linden Avenue
  • 6/14/2017: 12:45PM to 7:00PM, American Red Cross Greater Long Beach Chapter

Asia Morris is a Long Beach native covering arts and culture for the Long Beach Post. You can reach her @hugelandmass on Twitter and Instagram and at [email protected].