MONROE — The American Red Cross urges everyone to give blood or platelets to help increase the diversity of the blood supply.

The vast majority of blood types fall into one of the major blood groups. However, for patients with rare blood types or those who receive regular blood transfusions, blood must be matched closely — beyond the primary A, B, O and AB blood types — to reduce the risk of developing complications from transfusion therapy. The best match may be someone of the same racial or ethnic group. Appointments can be made by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.

Those who come to give blood or platelets during the month of October will automatically be entered for a chance to win one of five $500 gift cards redeemable at hundreds of merchants, courtesy of Tango Card. Terms apply; see rcblood.org/game.

Here are the upcoming opportunities to give blood for Green and Lafayette Counties:

Monroe: From 12:30 to 6 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Monroe Bible Church, 2613 8th Ave.

Monticello: From 12 to 5 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Zwingli United Church of Christ, 416 E. Lake Ave.

Blanchardville: From 1 to 6 p.m. Oct. 21 at the American Legion, 218 Mason St.