Blood Assurance is urging area residents to donate blood as local hospitals continue using blood faster than donations are coming in ahead of the Independence Day holiday.

From today through July 7, all eligible blood donors will receive a $40 e-gift card that can be redeemed at a variety of participating retailers, including grocery stores and gas stations.

The nonprofit says donations often decline during holiday weeks because of travel and vacation schedules, while hospitals must remain prepared for emergencies and trauma patients. Blood Assurance reports it has recently had less than a one-day supply of blood, platelets, and plasma, well below the recommended two- to three-day inventory needed to meet patient demand.

Blood Assurance is the primary blood supplier for Atrium Health Floyd and AdventHealth Redmond, meaning local donations directly benefit patients in Northwest Georgia.

Type O donors have an opportunity to earn even more. Those enrolled in Blood Assurance’s Hero Club can receive a $50 gift card for a double red cell donation. Combined with the current promotion, eligible donors could receive up to $90 for a single donation.

Appointments can be scheduled at bloodassurance.org, by calling 800-962-0628, or by texting BAGIVE to 999777.