Brookshire’s will host a community blood drive to benefit Carter Blood- Care on Saturday, July 10, at two local locations.

The drives will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Brookshire’s in Bullard, located at 213 North U.S. Highway 69, and from 3 to 6 p.m. at Brookshire’s in Flint, located at 20100 Highway 155 South.

For more information and to register for an appointment time, contact Manager Tony Johnson in Bullard at (903) 894- 9384 or Manager Keith Langston in Flint at (903) 825-7302.

All registered donors will received a free Carter BloodCare tote bag and all Carter BloodCare donors who donate during the month of July will be entered to win a free iPad from Apple.

Potential donors can be 16 years old with a parent’s consent; 17-year-olds may donate independently and there is no upper age limit for donating blood. All donors must weigh at least 110 pounds, be in good general health and present a photo ID. Ideally, a donor should also eat a good meal and drink plenty of fluids before giving blood.

For more information about donor eligibility, call Carter BloodCare at 1-800-DONATE- 4 or visit carterbloodcare.org.

There is a serious trend that exists in the blood-banking industry – blood donor numbers dwindle in the summer and the blood needs at hospitals often increase. When schools break for summer it affects many people’s routines. Families travel or get busy with other activities. The break in routine also means planned summer surgeries or unplanned visits to emergency rooms from travel accidents. Blood needs are ongoing and consistently growing, so Carter BloodCare urges blood donors to keep their appointments and invites new donors to help out this summer.