The American Red Cross is renewing its plea for blood donors as supplies of the life-sustaining fluid are running very low in our neck of the Midwest. Brenda Reuter is spokeswoman for the Red Cross’ North Central Blood Services division, which collects and distributes blood in parts of Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and South Dakota. When supplies dip so low, Reuter says they just have to keep asking for donations Reuter says “It’s reminding them that blood is constantly needed to be replenished. Blood has a shelf life, the red cells are about 42 days, so we always need people to continually come in and give blood.” Reuter says a recent contest designed to lure in more blood donors was a success. Reuter says “Of the thousand additional units that we needed, we’ve collected about 500 units. The public has come forward really well and has helped us climb out of this little slump that we’re in.” Two donors from the region were being promised free gasoline for a year.