The non-profit that provides blood and blood products to 120 hospitals in Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota is urging people to schedule appointments to give blood as soon as possible. Claire DeRoin, spokeswoman for LifeServe Blood Center, says a couple of our blood types are less than a two-day supply and that means it’s critical and sometimes it can even dip down to a one-day supply. DeRoin adds this is an emergency, we are asking for your help.

Under a new program called “Thank The Donor,” some blood donors may later receive notes from the patients whose lives they helped to save. LifeServe has donor centers in 7 Iowa communities, including Ames and Marshalltown.

To set up an appointment to help save lives, call 800-287-4903 or visit www.lifeservebloodcenter.org.