The Columbia Paper is reporting American Red Cross has an urgent need for blood donations to prevent another blood shortage as hospitals resume surgical procedures and patient treatments that were temporarily halted this spring in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Healthy people who are feeling well are asked to make an appointment to donate in the coming weeks and months by visiting RedCrossBlood [dot] org, calling 1-800-733-2767 or downloading the Red Cross donor app. Hospital demand for blood products has grown by 30 percent in recent weeks at the same time, blood drives are being canceled as many businesses and community organizations remain closed. To encourage donors to make and keep scheduled appointments, the Red Cross is offering a thank you gift to those who donate from June 1 through June 30. Upcoming blood donation opportunities in Columbia County are June 10, 1 to 6 p.m., at the Chatham Firehouse, 10 Hoffman Street in Chatham; and June 11, noon to 6 p.m., at the Hudson Elks Lodge at 201 Harry Howard Avenue, in Hudson. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.