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EDINA, MO. -- The American Red Cross is asking for your help.
    
Several factors have affected donor turnout at blood drives across the area.  Last week's snow storm forced the Red Cross to cancel blood drives.
    
Those cancellations severely impacted the supply of all blood types but especially type O-Negative.

“There are people that are always needing it (blood) and the O Type Negative blood is what we give to patients that we don't know their blood type and so that is why it's crucial that we keep the O-Negative blood supply up,” said American Red Cross Donor Recruitment Representative Sara Rex.

Rex says blood drives during the holidays never have a good turnout and regular donors get sick this time of year and can't donate.
    
Even though type O-Negative is the universal donor, the Red Cross says every blood type is important.

For a list of upcoming drives, click here.