MADISON – A year ago, many things in the world paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But the need for blood never stopped. Today blood donations are just as essential, and the American Red Cross urges individuals who are healthy to make an appointment to donate blood.

More donors, especially those with type O blood, are needed now to ensure that patients have lifesaving blood products available for emergencies and everyday medical treatments. Schedule a blood donation appointment by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 800-733-2767 or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.

Upcoming opportunities for Green County:

●  Juda: from 1 to 6 p.m. March 23 at Juda High School, N2385 Spring St.

●  Monroe: from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. March 29 at United Methodist Church, 2227 4th St.

●  New Glarus: from 12 to 6 p.m. April 2 at New Glarus Bible Church, 207 6th St.

●  Brodhead: from 12 to 5 p.m. April 6 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 405 9th Ave.

Opportunities for Lafayette County include:

●  Benton: from 1 to 5 p.m. March 23 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 237 E. Main

●  Shullsburg: 1 to 6 p.m. March 26 at the Fire Station, 330 W. Water St.

●  South Wayne: 1 to 5:30 p.m. April 7 at St. Johns Catholic Church, 304-306 E. Pleasant St.