The American Red Cross is teaming up with the St. Louis Cardinals to engage baseball fans as blood donors and to raise awareness about the ongoing need for blood. Every two seconds, someone in America needs blood and the need is especially great during the summer months.

Step up to the plate at your local blood drive to give blood. Call 1-800-GIVE LIFE (1-800-448-3543) to schedule an appointment. Donors who attempt to donate blood will receive a specially designed Cardinals t-shirt. Please bring your donor card or photo ID.

"Many Cardinals' fans turned out to show their support of the annual Cardinals' Step Up to the Plate and Donate Blood Drive in Clayton in June," said David A. Chumley, CEO for the American Red Cross Missouri-Illinois Blood Services Region. "The success of the drive shows how two of the most recognized names in the Region can join together to spread the word to help save lives. We hope the momentum of the blood drive will carry on throughout the Region during the month of July."

The Cardinals are hitting a grand slam for our local communities by partnering with the Red Cross for this promotion. The Cardinals' organization understands the importance of collecting blood in the summer, but also knows that each donation given helped possibly save up to three lives - that's an entire outfield!

To find center locations, hours and donation opportunities near you please call 1-800-GIVE LIFE (1-800-448-3543) or log onto www.americanredcrossblood.org . Patients throughout the Region and across America are counting on blood being available when needed.

Below is a list of blood drives in our local community for the month of July:

7/3 -- Campbell Community Building, Campbell, MO -- 2pm -- 6pm

7/6 -- Guardian Angel Parish, Oran, MO -- 8am -- 12pm

7/7 -- Chaffee High School -- 1pm -- 6pm

7/8 -- Poplar Bluff High School -- 2pm -- 6pm

7/9 -- Missouri Southern Healthcare, Dexter, MO -- 2pm -- 6pm

7/10 -- Slicer Street Church of Christ -- 2pm -- 6pm

7/10 -- Windsor Foods, Piedmont, MO -- 1:30pm -- 5:30pm

7/14 -- First Baptist Church, Doniphan, MO -- 12:30pm -- 5:30pm

7/15 -- Hunter Memorial Presbyterian Church, Sikeston, MO -- 2pm -- 6pm

7/15 -- Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Dexter, MO -- 12pm -- 5pm

7/15 -- Pemiscot County Family Support, Caruthersville, MO -- 10am -- 2pm

7/16 -- Dunklin County Family Support, Kennett, MO -- 10am -- 2pm

7/16 -- Three Rivers Community College -- 10am -- 2pm

7/17 -- Ferguson Medical Group, Sikeston, MO -- 10am -- 2pm

7/18 -- Sikeston Factory Outlet Mall -- 1pm -- 5pm

7/21 -- Missouri Department of Transportation, Sikeston, MO -- 11am -- 3pm

7/21 -- Second Baptist Church, Poplar Bluff, MO -- 2:30pm -- 6:30pm

7/23 -- Highland Drive Church of Christ, Poplar Bluff, MO -- 2pm -- 6pm

7/23 -- Palace of Praise, Poplar Bluff, MO -- 3pm -- 7pm

7/24 -- Qulin Lions Club Building, Qulin, MO -- 3pm -- 7pm

7/24 -- Butler County Health, Poplar Bluff, MO -- 10am -- 2pm

7/27 -- Shady Acres Church of Christ, Sikeston, MO -- 12pm -- 4pm

7/29 -- Missouri Delta Medical Center, Sikeston, MO -- 1pm -- 6pm

7/30 -- John J Pershing VA Medical Center, Poplar Bluff, MO -- 12pm -- 4pm

Crystal Jones

Donor Recruitment Representative

American Red Cross

Missouri-Illinois Blood Services Region

(573) 986-7951

jonescg@usa.redcross.org