MONROE — The Monroe community and the American Red Cross are hosting an upcoming blood drive from 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21 at Monroe Bible Church, Nehemiah Center, 2613 8th Ave., Monroe. 

Red Cross has an emergency need for blood and platelet donors to help ensure lifesaving medical treatments and emergency care are not delayed or canceled. rcblood.org/appt

The need for blood is constant and volunteer donors can fulfill that need for patients in the community. Nationwide, someone needs a unit of blood every 2 to 3 seconds and most of us will need blood in our lifetime.

Download the Red Cross Blood Donor App or text BLOODAPP to 90999. Schedule appointments, get rewards and invite friends to join you on a lifesaving team.