The American Red Cross is asking donors to be a powerful force for good by giving blood or platelets now and in the weeks to come. According to the organization, donors are critically needed right now after a sharp decrease in donations since late spring. 

The Red Cross says all blood types are needed, especially donors giving type O blood and those giving platelets. 

The Red Cross has teamed up with Universal Pictures for the theatrical release of TWISTERS to help avoid a summer blood shortage. 

Individuals that donate blood or platelets July 1-31 will get a Fandango Movie Ticket by email. Additionally, those who give July 1-14 will receive a one-of-a-kind TWISTERS and Red Cross umbrella, while supplies last. 

The Red Cross is also doing a bonus giveaway. Those who give blood throughout the month of July will be automatically entered for a chance to win a 2025 Ram 1500 Big Horn. More information on the giveaway can be found here. 

“The Red Cross is grateful to have partners like Universal Pictures who are not only lending this support to encourage blood donations during this critical time of year but have also generously donated to help support disaster relief,” said Jennifer Pipa, vice president of Disaster Programs for the Red Cross. “Because of the climate crisis, the Red Cross is now launching twice as many relief operations for major disasters than we did a decade ago. And disasters are not only straining our relief operations but also our ability to collect lifesaving blood donations. So far this year we have collected 20,000 fewer blood donations due to severe weather.”

More information on the Red Cross can be found here.