As summer begins to unfold, the Cayuga County Chapter of the American Red Cross urges eligible and new donors to “Give a Little of Their Selves this Summer” and donate blood. Donors are needed because blood donations take a dramatic decline in summer months - as much as 10-15 percent. The temporary loss of school blood drives coupled with summer vacation schedules can create a tenuous environment for the blood supply.

American Red Cross provides nearly half of the nation's blood supply. The need for blood is constant - every two seconds somebody in the nation needs blood.

The Fourth of July weekend is the unofficial signal for people to begin fun summer activities. It is also the start when blood donations decline. Here at the chapter, we saw that happen almost immediately. On July 1, we had a drive right here at the chapter office. We hung posters all over town, placed “Burma shave” signs at street intersections and called more than 450 past donors. With 26 registered donors, we were very hopeful - yet only 15 donors showed up even after they had a reminder call that morning. Our goal that day was 25 units of blood, but we fell far short of that.

To help ensure that adequate supplies of blood are available now and throughout the summer, the Red Cross encourages eligible blood donors of all types to set aside time from their busy schedules and make a special effort to give a little of themselves and donate blood in memory of a loved one some time during July or August.

To spice up summer donations and entice NASCAR fans, who make up about one-third of the U.S. population and are well-known for being giving, civic-minded and patriotic, a brand new program, Red Cross Racing, which links NASCAR fans with the American Red Cross in a meaningful, fulfilling and fun way to help the organization achieve its annual blood supply goals was started.

At the center of the program is the first-ever NASCAR-based Blood Donor Rewards program. We hope NASCAR fans, many of whom already give blood, will give blood often under this new program to help bolster our nation's blood supply and eliminate blood shortages.

Through a unique donation by 3M Corporation, which donated two full paint schemes of the No. 16 Ford Fusion to feature the Red Cross logo at two races, as well as No. 16's rear quarter panels for 10 races, the Red Cross is participating in the world of NASCAR. Visit www.redcrossracing.com for complete information.

During August, there will be five blood drives in Cayuga County. They are:

• From 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, at Holy Family

• From 1 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13, at the Union Springs Fire Department hosted by Trinity United Methodist Church

• From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26 (closed to the public), at NUCOR

• From 1 to 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29, at Seneca/Cayuga ARC

• From 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 21, at St. Mary's

You might have noticed that the last drive lasts all day long. This is our Third Community That Cares Blood Drive. The chapter has been challenged to collect 350 units in 10 hours. That means we will call more than 3,000 donors to register those 35 donors per hour.

Our great thanks go to St. Mary's for opening the church doors to the American Red Cross and to the Auburn Downtown BID for helping us promote the Community That Cares Blood Drive. Nicole Wiggins, our summer intern, has designed a coupon booklet chocked full of surprises from downtown merchants. All donors will receive a complimentary coupon book.

All current eligible and new donors are strongly urged to schedule and keep appointments to donate blood today by contacting the chapter at 252-9596 or chapter@ccredcross.org. Anyone 17 years or older, weighing at least 110 pounds and in general good health is eligible to donate blood. Sixteen-year-olds may donate blood provided they bring an original Signed Informed Parental Consent form. The consent form can be found at www.DonateBloodNow.org/16. Identification is required at the time of donation to give blood.

Don't forget during the downtown concert series held from 7 to 9 p.m. each Wednesday the Red Cross will be present grilling hot dogs and hamburgers and selling soda and water. Also a number of bands will be performing. For a complete listing of all the bands, visit the BID Web site.

Susan Marteney is executive director of the Cayuga County Chapter of the American Red Cross.