It’s that time of year when blood donations across the state tend to decline. Red Cross Spokesperson Sue Gonsior says that bad weather, flu and colds keep people away, but hundreds of units of blood need to be collected every day to meet the demand. Blood drives taking place around the local area this week include today (MON) at Salem Lutheran Church in Madelia from 1:30 to 6:30, from 1 to 7 today and tomorrow (TUE) at the Redwood Falls National Guard Armory, from 1 to 7 on Tuesday at the Comfrey Community Center and from Noon to 6 at Peace Lutheran Church in Hutchinson, on Wednesday from 1 to 7 at the community centers in Buffalo Lake, Wabasso and Mayer, on Thursday at Cactus Jack’s in Stewart from 2 to 7, and at the Mankato Red Cross headquarters on Homestead Drive from 12:30 to 5:30 on Thursday and 9am to 1pm on Friday. To learn more about giving blood visit www.redcrossblood.org.