As summer begins, the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center has issued its annual plea for donations.
Spokesman Kirby Winn says the Memorial Day holiday means no donations were collected on Monday, and no donation drives will be held at schools and colleges because they've closed for the summer.
"We're collecting more than 3,500 donations every week and so to lose a day of collection in a week due to a holiday - that's a big hit. And then again if the donation rate is a little bit lower also on the other days we're operating, it can snowball this time of year."
The blood center, based in Davenport, serves 95 hospitals in Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Missouri.
Winn says there's no blood shortage right now, but it is important for people to donate regularly all year round.
