Cape Fear Valley Blood Donor Center is asking the public to step up and donate blood or platelets at its Fayetteville facility or one of several upcoming Cape Fear Valley mobile blood drives. Due to the summer lull in donations, especially with the Fourth of July holiday coming up, the Blood Donor Center says the public’s help is critical to maintain a local supply of blood and platelets for patients.

“People can call us to schedule an appointment to do a platelet donation, we have a lot of openings right now,” said Cape Fear Valley Blood Donor Center Manager Amy Fisher in a press release. “Platelets especially help cancer patients who are going through chemotherapy, so if you know someone who has cancer and wish you could do something to help, this would be a great action to take.”

Currently, all donors at the Cape Fear Valley Blood Donor Center are receiving a 60-minute game pass for Main Event in Fayetteville, while supplies last. Every donor is also entered into a giveaway for one of three $500 Visa gift cards, which will be drawn randomly at the end of July. On Mondays, donors additionally receive one movie ticket along with the Main Event game certificate.

Cape Fear Valley Blood Donor Center is a community blood program dedicated to serve the needs of patients in Cumberland, Hoke, Harnett and Bladen counties through blood donation by individual donors, community organizations and businesses. The center is located at 3357 Village Drive, Fayetteville, in the Bordeaux Shopping Center. It is open for donations Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the third Saturday of each month from 8 a.m. to noon. The center will be closed on Thursday, July 4, for the holiday. There are also two blood mobiles out in the community for mobile blood drives.

During the school year, area schools often hold blood drives. Now that it is summer, however, other hosts for blood drives are needed! Businesses or organizations who would like to host a mobile blood drive should contact Kristyn Keefe at (910) 615-3306.

Below is a list of upcoming mobile blood drives:

• THE OFFICES OF VILLAGE GREEN: Wednesday, July 3, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 1900 Fordham Drive, Fayetteville
• HOME INSTEAD: Thursday, July 11, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., 555 Executive Place, Fayetteville
• HAYMOUNT INSTITUTE FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES: Wednesday, July 12, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., 996 Helen St., Fayetteville 
• ST. ANN CATHOLIC CHURCH: Thursday, July 13, 9 a.m. to Noon, 357 N. Cool Spring St., Fayetteville