BUFFALO — As the busy July 4 holiday week approaches, the American Red Cross asks donors to celebrate by making a blood or platelet donation appointment to help power the blood supply through mid-summer.

Making and keeping donation appointments now is critical to ensuring blood products are available for all patients, including those in trauma situations that may require several lifesaving transfusions, in the weeks to come.

While all blood types are needed, donors with type O blood are most urgently needed. Type O negative blood is often used in emergencies when there isn’t time to match a patient’s blood type. Type O positive is the most common blood type, so it’s important to keep type O blood and all blood types on hand at hospitals for people facing both chronic illness and sudden, life-threatening conditions.

Make a blood or platelet donation appointment by visiting redcrossblood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767), or by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App.

The Red Cross and goodr sunglasses are joining forces in July to remind donors they’re just the type that patients can count on. All who come to give July 1-14 will get an exclusive pair of Red Cross x goodr sunglasses while supplies last. Donors can personalize their one-of-a-kind shades with a blood type sticker! For details, visit redcrossblood.org/goodr.

Those who make a donation by June 30 will get a $15 Amazon.com gift card by email, plus be automatically entered to win one of two $7,000 gift cards. See redcrossblood.org/June.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities:

ALLEGANY COUNTY

• Belfast – July 16, noon-5 p.m., Belfast Central School, 1 King St.
• Cuba – July 8, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Palmer Opera House, 12 W. Main St.
• Wellsville – Friday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., YMCA-Wellsville, 133 Bolivar Road.
• Wellsville – July 11, 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Wellsville Bible Church, 2908 Andover Road.

CATTARAUGUS COUNTY

• Gowanda – Wednesday, noon-5 p.m., American Legion Post 409, 100 Legion Drive.
• Franklinville – July 18, 1-5:30 p.m., Franklinville Fire Hall, 75 N. Main St.
• Olean – Friday, 11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Olean Public Library, 134 N. 2nd St.
• Olean – July 5, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Olean Family YMCA, 1101 Wayne St.
• Olean – July 7, noon-5:30 p.m., St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 109 S. Barry St.
• Salamanca – July 11, 1-6 p.m., Our Lady Peace Church, 274 Broad St.