The American Red Cross will hold a Mattapoisett Community Blood drive on Thursday, July 31 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Bay Club on County Road

To make an appointment to donate blood, call 1-800-REDCROSS or visit www.redcrossblood.org.

The American Red Cross is facing a looming blood shortage, leading to an urgent need for donors of all blood types. Donations through the Red Cross are down approximately 8 percent over the last 11 weeks, resulting in 80,000 fewer donations than expected.

The shortfall in donations is significant enough that the Red Cross could experience an emergency shortage in the coming weeks.

The need for blood donors with types O negative, B negative and A negative is especially urgent.