The Kentucky Blood Center will be hosting a blood drive at McDowell ARH on Thursday, June 15th from 9-11 am.

Kentucky Blood Center officials said that historically, donations dwindle during the summer. They encourage Kentuckians to donate blood in order to ensure a steady blood supply through the summer as Kentucky Blood Center supports more than 70 hospitals throughout the state.

Blood collected at this drive will save the lives of patients in Kentucky who require products for surgeries, diseases like cancer, traumas, organ transplants, premature births and more.

Blood donors must be at least 17 years old (16 with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds, be in general good health, show a photo I.D. and meet additional requirements. Sixteen-year-old donors must have a signed parental permission slip, which can be found at kybloodcenter.org.