The American Red Cross encourages eligible donors to give blood during National Volunteer Month this April.

Eligible donors of all blood types – especially type O – are needed to help ensure blood products are available for patients this spring.

Volunteer donors are the only source of blood products for those in need of transfusions, and the Red Cross salutes the volunteer blood donors who help fulfill its life saving mission. While donors of all blood types are needed, the Red Cross currently has a severe shortage of type O blood donations and urges type O donors to give now.

Make an appointment to help save lives now by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

To celebrate the final season of “Game of Thrones,” HBO and the American Red Cross have partnered to encourage fans and donors to show their bravery and valor by bleeding #ForTheThrone. Those who come to donate by April 30 will be automatically entered for a chance to win a full-size Iron Throne from HBO’s “Game of Thrones.” Terms and conditions apply and are available at RedCrossBlood.org/HBOGameofThrones. Additionally, all presenting donors April 11-30, will receive a commemorative Bleed For The Throne poster, while supplies last, and automatically be entered in the above-mentioned sweepstakes.

Upcoming Austin blood donation dates:

• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, April 11, at Sterling Drug, 1305 First Ave. SW.

• 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, April 22, at Austin Utilities, 1908 14th St. NE.

• 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, April 22, at the Mower County Senior Citizens Center, 400 Third Ave. NE