The Madison Rotary Club is partnering with the American Red Cross to hold a community blood drive on Tuesday, August 18, at the Madison Area YMCA, 111 Kings Road. The donation process takes about 15 minutes, and a single donation can help save up to three lives, according to Patch.

Kyle Becker, a Madison Rotary member who coordinates the club's blood drives at the YMCA, described the experience before the club's August 2024 drive: "It's easy, professionally run and it's good to know that you are making a difference."

The drive comes as the region works to rebuild blood reserves after a difficult summer. Extreme heat, severe storms, and prolonged power outages caused more than 3,000 fewer donations in the week before the Fourth of July, leaving the region with just a two-day supply, according to NJ.com. A typical reserve is five to seven days.

Supplies remain low.

New York Blood Center Enterprises attributed the shortfall to reduced donor turnout caused by weather disruptions and ongoing storm cleanup. More than 60 percent of New Jersey residents are eligible to give blood, but only 3.6 percent do, according to the New Jersey Association of Blood Bank Professionals.

The Rotary Club, which has partnered with the YMCA on blood drives for years, awarded $38,000 in grants to 28 local organizations in 2024, including the Madison Area YMCA.

For details and to sign up, visit the Madison Rotary Club event page or email [email protected].