Canton residents can donate blood Thursday, Aug. 13, at the Gardner White store on Ford Road as the American Red Cross faces what it calls only its second-ever national blood supply crisis.

The drive runs from 11:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. at 41661 Ford Road. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are strongly recommended.

Every donor will receive a $50 Gardner White coupon toward a purchase of $399 or more and an entry to win a $500 Gardner White gift certificate. Separately, the Red Cross is offering a $20 Amazon gift card by email to anyone who donates blood through Aug. 28.

The Canton location is one of eight Gardner White stores across Michigan hosting drives that day, according to ClickOnDetroit. Other locations include Auburn Hills, Chesterfield, Howell and Warren, among others.

Why it matters now

The Red Cross declared a national blood supply crisis in late July, reporting that donations had fallen to a four-year summer low. The organization said it has less than a one-day national supply of type O positive blood, the most commonly transfused type.

The only previous national blood crisis was in January 2022.

Michael Turner, donor recruit manager for the Mid-Michigan Red Cross, told WILX on July 27 that extreme heat, poor air quality and foodborne illnesses have driven down summer turnout. He noted that donated blood has a shelf life of just 42 days, meaning the supply must be continuously replenished.

"We really need everybody to hold themselves to an appointment, take that extra time, could be a loved one that really needs that blood," Turner said in the July 27 interview.

How to sign up

Appointments can be made at RedCrossBlood.org, by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS, or through the Red Cross Blood Donor App using sponsor code "gardnerwhite." All blood types are needed.

Residents who cannot make Thursday's drive can still earn the $20 Amazon gift card by donating at any Red Cross location through Aug. 28.