The American Red Cross says it is in desperate need of blood donors.

Blood donations were down at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Blood drives and donations are coming back, but the Red Cross says that more is needed.

“There is a human being behind every unit of blood, because it can’t be manufactured. So, it always comes from someone who cares,” says Rosie Taravella, regional CEO of America Red Cross New Jersey.

To entice more people to donate, the American Red Cross is offering another incentive.

“If you give blood between Nov. 1 and Nov. 12, you are automatically entered to win a nine-day trip to Hawaii,” Taravella says

Taravella says that donations are down 10% since August. The current blood supply is the lowest it has been at this time of the year in a decade. She says that while donations have been increasing, the need has also gone up.

“More people were getting back on the roads and unfortunately getting in more accidents. People are rescheduling surgeries they’d put off,” Taravella says.

In addition to the possibility of winning a trip to Hawaii, anyone who donates blood to the Red Cross between Nov. 1 and Nov. 23 will receive a $10 Amazon gift card.

The trip raffle and gift cards were donated by Amazon Prime. Those who are interested in donating blood can sign up at the American Red Cross website.