ILLINOIS (RFD) — The American Red Cross is putting out an emergency call for blood and platelet donors, as the recent winter storms and government shutdown together have combined to limit the donations received in recent weeks. Agency organizers are asking you to find a blood drive near you and roll up your sleeve. Joe Zydlo (zid-low), spokesman for the American Red Cross, says Mother Nature and some lawmakers combined to create this unfortunate circumstance.

The Red Cross must collect approximately 14,000 blood and platelet donations every day for the patients at about 2,600 hospitals and transfusion centers nationwide. You can find a list of blood drives near you at www.redcrossblood.org