Amid nationwide crisis, local Red Cross seeks to fill gaps in donorship

As the nation’s blood supply hits crisis levels, local American Red Cross officials want to attract more people to Salem churches, hospitals and government offices to give blood.

The American Red Cross announced a national blood crisison Monday, July 27. Two weeks prior, it had declared a national shortage after the supply fell about 25% in June. The crisis developed as donorship stalled, with heat, poor air quality and foodborne illnesses further contributing to…