Blood donations decrease about 20 percent in the summer, when the need increases.

You can help make a difference by participating in one of these upcoming Community Blood Center drives in Lawrence:

• Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, 325 Maine, in conference rooms A and D South. The first 50 donors will receive a free car wash at Auto Plaza Car Wash. To make an appointment, visit savealifenow.org and use sponsor code lawrencehosp or call 749-5800.

• Thursday, July 15, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Christ Community Church, 1100 Kasold Drive. To make an appointment, visit savealifenow.org and use sponsor code christcommunity or contact Melody Barclay at 842-7600.

The Kansas City, Mo.-based Community Blood Center supplies blood to 72 hospitals in Missouri and Kansas, including LMH.

Last year, 47,000 patients received life-saving blood.

To donate, you must:

• Be at least age 16.

• Weigh at least 115 pounds.

• Be in good health.

For medical eligibility questions, call 800-245-7035.

The center had a “Battle For Blood” competition June 26-July 2 that pitted police departments against fire departments. According to the website battleforblood.com, the fire departments won this year’s contest by drawing 914 donations, 76 more than the police departments.