The American Red Cross asks eligible donors to help ensure blood is available for patients in need by giving blood in May before the busy summer season kicks in.

Blood and platelet donations often decrease when regular donors are vacationing and school is out of session, but the need for blood is constant. Donors are needed in the weeks leading up to summer to help alleviate this seasonal decline.

Donors of all blood types - especially those with types O negative, A negative and B negative - are needed to help ensure blood is available for patients this spring. Those who come to donate blood between May 23 and May 25, 2015, will receive a limited-edition Red Cross-branded RuMe® tote bag, while supplies last.

Rutherford County blood drives:

La Vergne

5/16/2015: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., LaVergne FreeWill Baptist Church, 185 Mason Circle

Smyrna

5/31/2015: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m., LifePoint Church, 506 Legacy Drive

5/31/2015: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., St. Luke Catholic Church - Knights of Columbus, 10602 Old Nashville Hwy.

To make an appointment to give blood, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).