The nonprofit Michigan Blood will give back to residential blood donors during the first full week of July. Those who have donated could receive items made for, and by, other Michiganders.

The “Love Michigan” event begins July 3 and will run through July 8. Anyone who donates blood at one of Michigan Blood’s main donor centers will receive a T-shirt, a SpartanNash bag, Better Made chips and an Old Orchard Juice coupon.

“One hour of your time means saving up to three lives in your community,” said Carleen Crawford, director of communications and marketing for Michigan Blood. “Summer is a time of low blood donations and high need, so we’re showing our love for Michiganders with this promotion.”

Traffic fatalities are worse during holiday weekends, with the Fourth of July  weekend being one of the worst during the year, according to Michigan State Police. The blood donated during the “Love Michigan” campaign will help hospitals replenish their supplies after what is often a busy time.

Michigan Blood is the primary provider of blood and blood products for more than 60 hospitals in Michigan, including Bronson, Borgess, Lakeland and the VA Medical Center. Donations given outside of Michigan Blood do not have direct local impact. Donating blood with Michigan Blood helps save the lives of patients in Michigan hospitals. Any healthy person 17 or older (or 16 with parental consent) who weighs at least 112 pounds may be eligible to donate, although females age 18 and under must weigh 120 pounds or more. Blood donors should bring a photo ID. The nonprofit is currently in urgent need of type O-negative blood donations.

To schedule an appointment, call (866) 642-5663 (MIBLOOD) or schedule online at donate.miblood.org.

Founded in 1955, Michigan Blood is a fast growing, independent, nonprofit blood bank headquartered in Grand Rapids.

It is the primary provider of blood products and services for more than 60 hospitals throughout Michigan and is an established leader in quality and service. Michigan Blood collects more than 126,000 units of blood each year at eight permanent donation sites and more than 3,600 mobile blood drives in 59 counties statewide. Michigan Blood has a nationally recognized stem cell (marrow) program and created Michigan’s first public cord blood bank. In addition, Michigan Blood provides therapeutic apheresis, cellular therapies for the treatment of cancer and transfusion medicine consultations. For more information, visit miblood.org.

Local donor centers participating in the promotion:

Kalamazoo Area Donation Center, 524 E. Milham, Portage

• 7 a.m.  to 2 p.m. Monday, July 3

• 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, July 4

• 7 a.m.  to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 8

St. Joseph Area Donation Center, 2710 Cleveland Ave., St. Joseph

• Noon  to 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 5