ESCANABA — Amidst an “emergency blood shortage,” the American Red Cross is holding blood drives in Escanaba, Carney, Kingsford, and Marinette in August and September. Because of the need, they’re even giving out $20 Amazon gift cards to those who donate this month.

The American Red Cross, after its founding by Clara Barton in 1881, received its first congressional charter in 1900. Though a “federal instrumentality” required to fulfill the provisions of the Geneva Convention and supply disaster relief both domestically and internationally, the organization does not receive regular federal funding and relies upon the charitable public.

Back in January, the Red Cross — the country’s largest blood supplier — announced that donor numbers had hit an all-time low, falling 40% in the last 20 years. Multiple factors are responsible; there’s the fact that eligibility requirements have tightened, and, more recently, as a higher population works from home, that means the drives held in community centers may be less accessible to them.

But neither of those account for the dramatic plummet last month: the Red Cross reported that its national blood supply fell 25% during the month of July.

“This alarming drop in blood inventory across the nation poses a serious threat to patient care,” reads a press release from Aug. 5.

Summertime often brings a rise in accidents that require blood transfusions.

As supplies deplete, it’s important to keep refreshing. People with cancer and chronic illnesses require transfusions regularly.

Type O positive is most often used in transfusions, while O negative is the universal type used in emergency situations in which the patient’s blood type is unknown. Both are of course necessary, but so are all the others.

To encourage the public to come out and donate at blood drives, the Red Cross is offering gift cards to donors during the month of August.

Upcoming drives in the area are as follows:

– In Escanaba, Wellspring Community Church in the Delta Plaza Mall hosts from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 9; from noon to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 13; and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 14.

– In Carney, a blood drive will be held at the Evangelical Free Church from noon to 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 16.

– In Menominee, Bethel Lutheran Church is holding a blood drive from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 21.

– In Wallace, Gethsemane Lutheran Church will have a drive on Tuesday, Aug. 27, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

– In Kingsford, the First Presbyterian Church will host drives from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 13 and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 14.

– In Marinette, Wis., blood drives will be held at Marinette Faith Lutheran Church on Wednesday, Aug. 14 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; at Marinette High School on Monday, Aug. 19 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and at the Best Western on Riverside Ave. on Thurs., Aug. 29 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Individuals may book a time slot by visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-733-2767.

Community groups — businesses, churches, schools — can arrange to host a blood drive at redcrossblood.org/host-a-drive.