MARQUETTE — As World Blood Donor Day approaches on Friday, the American Red Cross stresses that blood and platelet donors are critically needed to combat a drastic shortfall in donations over the last several weeks.

Donors of all blood types are needed, especially those with type O blood and donors giving platelets.

Blood drives planned in the area this month include:

— Tuesday, June 18, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesday, June 19, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, Hamilton Avenue, Kingsford;

— Thursday, June 20, from noon to 5 p.m., Florence County Rescue Building, 747 Lake Ave., Florence;

Wednesday, June 26, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Grace Methodist/Bethany Lutheran Church, 130 Odill Road, Norway.

Make a blood or platelet donation a priority this summer. Book a time to give now by going to RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App.