Responding to calls for more blood donations, Centennial shop Curate: A Local Mercantile will host a community blood drive at 8242 S. University Blvd. from noon to 4 p.m. Friday, July 1. 

The shop has partnered with Vitalant, a national nonprofit that hosts about 60,000 blood drives annually, to host the blood drive. A Vitalant bloodmobile will be located outside the shop. Those planning to donate can sign up for an appointment by visiting the website donors.vitalant.org and entering the blood drive code: 3182055. 

“As you know, there is an urgent need for blood donations in Colorado,” said Curate: A Local Mercantile in an online posting about the event. “Please sign up to donate today.”

The community blood drive comes a few weeks after Vitalant announced a critical blood shortage in a June 14 news release. In April and May, Vitalant collected about 13,000 fewer blood donations compared to the year prior, the organization said. 

New blood donors are especially needed, as the number has decreased by 12% year-over-year, according to the news release. New blood donors to Vitalant can learn their preliminary blood type during their first visit, the organization said. 

All participants in the blood drive July 1 will also receive a complimentary bag filled with products from Curate: A Local Mercantile. The shop, formerly known as Unlisted Market, opened in 2013 and helps sell the products of local artisan and boutique vendors.