Here's where you can donate blood in October in Lancaster County

Health care organizations continue to caution that there's a need for blood donors to keep the emergency blood supply stable as fall begins.

Those having surgery, or who need regular transfusions — such as those with sickle cell disease — depend on that blood supply.

The American Red Cross says that only 3 out of every 100 Americans donates blood.

The Red Cross and two other health care organizations have scheduled blood drives around Lancaster County during the month of October that can help prevent a blood shortage in our area.

You can even donate blood on Halloween.

You can visit the websites of Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, the Central Pennsylvania Blood Bank and the Red Cross for information on who qualifies to be a donor and for registration and tips on how to prepare to donate blood.

At many of theses drives, donors can receive free T-shirts; buy-one-get-one restaurant coupons; passes to movies, sporting events and other entertainment; and other thank-you gifts for donating.

Here's where you can give blood in October in Lancaster County.

American Red Cross

American Red Cross donors can register and schedule a time and place to donate at RedCrossBlood.org . You can also call 800-733-2767 or download the Red Cross blood donor app.

Those who come to donate during October will receive a $10 Amazon gift card by email.

LCBC Church Ephrata, 6 Hahnstown Road, Ephrata, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3.

Lititz Martial Arts, 400 N. Cedar St., Lititz, 1-6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7.

Memorial United Methodist Church, 101 S Hess St., Quarryville, 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11.

New Holland Mennonite Church, 18 Western Ave., New Holland, 1:30-6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 14.

Millersville University, Student Memorial Center, 1 S. George St., Millersville, 1:30-6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16.

Calvary Church, 1051 Landis Valley Road, Lancaster, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18.

Elizabethtown College, Brossman Commons, 1 Alpha Drive, Elizabethtown, noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22.

Wesley United Methodist Church, 46 W. Main St., Strasburg, 1-6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23.

West Willow United Methodist Church, 119 West Willow Road, Willow Street, 1:30-6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31.

Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health

Donors may go to blood drives at various locations or the donor center at the Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health Suburban Pavilion, 2104 Harrisburg Ave., Lancaster, from Monday through Friday.

Those coming to donate will receive either a $10 Sheetz gift card or a movie ticket to Penn Cinema or Regal Cinema.

All blood donors must schedule an appointment to donate by calling 717-544-0170. or going to lghblooddonors.org/donorportal .

Visit LGHealth.org/GiveBlood for donor center hours.

White Horse Fire Company, 111 White Horse Road, Gap, 2-8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2.

Bart Fire Company, 11 Furnace Road, Quarryville, 2-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3.

Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, 750 E. King St., Lancaster, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4.

S. Dale High Leadership Center at Greenfield, 1861 William Penn Way, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9.

Alliance Church, 425 Cloverleaf Road, Elizabethtown, 2-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10.

Messick's Farm Equipment, 1475 Strickler Road, Mount Joy, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15.

Integrity Pools and Spas, 168 Airport Road, south of Lititz, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16.

Northwest Regional Police, 8855 Elizabethtown Road, Elizabethtown, 2-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17.

Providence Township Building, 200 Mount Airy Road, New Providence, 2-7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22.

Caernarvon Fire Company, 2145 Main Street, Narvon, 2-8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23.

Bareville Fire Company, 211 E. Main St., Leola, 2-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24.

Lancaster General Hospital,

Faith Church Quarryville, 611 Robert Fulton Highway, Quarryville, 2-7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29.

Intercourse Fire Company,

Strasburg Borough Police,

Central Pennsylvania Blood Bank

To donate to the Central Pennsylvania Blood Bank, donors can sign up at 717giveblood.org or call 800-771-0059.

You can donate Monday through Friday at the Lancaster Donor Center, 3027 Columbia Ave., in East Hempfield Township, or Monday through Thursday and Saturday at the Ephrata Donor Center, 446 N. Reading Road, Suite 201, Ephrata. Hours are posted on the website.

Root's Country Market and Auction, 705 Graystone Road, south of Manheim, in the bloodmobile, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1.

Fairmount Homes retirement community,

J.B. Hostetter & Sons Inc., 1225 We. Main St., Mount Joy, in the bloodmobile, 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5.

Fivepointville Fire Company,

Penn Cinema, 541 Airport Road, Lititz, in the lobby, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24.

Rheems Fire Department, 350 Anchor Road, Elizabethtown, in the conference room, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16.

Martindale Community Blood Drive, 527 Gristmill Road, Ephrata, in the training room, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21.