ERIE — The American Red Cross is facing a severe blood shortage and urgently needs blood donors to give now to avoid delays in lifesaving medical care for patients. Volunteer blood drive hosts are also critically needed to prevent the shortage from worsening this winter.

Drives are scheduled across the local area to help, including drives today in Weedville and Coudersport.

During September and October, the Red Cross collected more than 21,000 fewer blood and platelet donations than what hospitals needed. Blood donors of all blood types, especially type O, are urged to make an appointment to donate at RedCrossBlood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Fewer blood drives in September and October coupled with hurricanes Michael and Florence, which caused thousands of blood and platelet donations to go uncollected, were key contributing factors to the current blood shortage.

An additional 4,300 blood drives nationally and over 170 blood drives are needed in the New York-Penn Region in December, January and February to help stop the shortage from continuing throughout winter.

Those interested in hosting a blood drive can learn more and sign up to sponsor a drive this winter, by visiting RedCrossBlood.org/HostADrive.

To encourage donations around the Thanksgiving holiday, those who come to donate blood with the Red Cross Nov. 21-24 will receive a long-sleeved Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities Nov. 13-Dec. 15:

• Emporium, 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Dec. 13, Vets Club, 427 E. 3rd St.

• Johnsonburg, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 14, Johnsonburg Senior Center, 430 Center St.

• Ridgway, 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Nov. 16, Ridgway Central Hose Co., 30 N. Broad St.

• St. Marys, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 12, Moose Club Lodge, 30 Erie Ave.

• Weedville, 1 to 6 p.m. today, Weedville Wesleyan Church, 18945 Bennetts Valley Highway

• Bradford, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 27, University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, 300 Campus Drive

• Eldred, 1 to 6 p.m. Dec. 6, First Church of God, 142 Main St.

• Kane, noon to 6 p.m. Dec. 3, First United Methodist Church, 112 Greeves St.

• Lewis Run, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 20, Keystone Powdered Metal Co., 8 Hanley Drive

• Smethport, noon to 5:30 p.m. Dec. 10, Smethport Fire Hall, 109 S. Nelson St.

• Coudersport, 12:30 to 5 p.m. today, Coudersport Consistory, 111 E. 2nd St.

• Ulysses, 2 to 7 p.m. Nov. 16, Tri Town Fire and Ambulance, 836 Route 49

Eligible donors can find a blood or platelet donation opportunity and schedule an appointment to donate by using the free Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Donation appointments and completion of a RapidPass, are encouraged to help speed up the donation process. RapidPass lets donors complete the pre-donation reading and answer the health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, from the convenience of a mobile device or computer, or through the Blood Donor App.