A national blood crisis is making headlines, and Washingtonians can help make a difference.

Why it matters: The U.S. faces an alarming blood supply crisis that could last the entire summer, potentially delaying surgeries, trauma care and other treatments that depend on blood transfusions.

What they're saying: The American Red Cross says "tens of thousands" of people donated blood last week after it declared a national blood crisis, but it's not enough.

• "We still need more donors to give in the coming weeks to not only rebuild the blood supply but also help sustain a stable blood supply through the summer," spokesperson Daniel Parra tells Axios via email.

Context: Blood donations fell to a four-year low this summer, creating a national blood shortage for only the second time in history, the Red Cross said last week.

• The current supply isn't keeping up with the demand, which increases in the summer, according to the Red Cross.
• The U.S. Surgeon General's office said donation levels had declined "at an alarming rate."

Between the lines: The Red Cross attributed the low donor turnout to extreme heat, bad air quality and "widespread foodborne illnesses" hitting the country.

Zoom in: There are plenty of ways to donate blood in the Washington area.

The American Red Cross holds blood drives at community sites across the region, and people who donate this month will receive an Amazon gift card.

• The Red Cross also has multiple permanent blood donation centers across D.C., Maryland and Virginia.

Meanwhile, Inova has three fixed-site donor centers in Centreville, Sterling and Annandale, and hosts blood drives at rotating sites across the area.

Plus: You can give blood at Children's National Hospital, as well as NIH blood banks in Bethesda and Rockville.

Go deeper

It's reservation time. Washington's biggest summer Restaurant Week returns Aug. 24-30.

Why it matters: Over 200 DMV restaurants participate in the summer promo, with some great deals — whether you're after a $25 brunch or a $65 splurge.

State of plate: Most restaurants offer three-course brunches and lunches ($25-$35) and dinners ($40, $55 or $65).

🍽️ Newcomers worth booking

Bazaar Meat

• José Andrés' newly reimagined steakhouse inside the Waldorf Astoria is offering a $35 brunch. Pro tip: Brunch/lunch at spendy spots are typically the best Restaurant Week deals. Here, you'll get a full meal for about what one steak tartare normally costs.

Canton Disco

• Chef Timothy Yu's modern Cantonese restaurant in Navy Yard is serving crowd favorites like black pepper wagyu, plus an $80 duck feast for two. There's also a $25 lunch if you're keeping things budget-friendly.

Catahoula

• Navy Yard's New Orleans newcomer is going all in with $35 brunch and lunch plus a $55 dinner.

Press Club

• One of the city's best cocktail bars also serves surprisingly excellent food. The Restaurant Week menu is still under wraps, but Hive Hospitality (Bresca, Jônt) earns its buzz.

Rye Bunny

• The Adams Morgan breakout hit hasn't yet posted their $55 Restaurant Week menu, but after multiple visits, I'm confident it'll be as delicious as it is popular.

Uchi

• Dupont's buzzy new sushi destination is serving a five-course $65 dinner featuring longtime favorites like hamachi crudo and the fried milk dessert.

✨ Classics you can't miss

Bombay Club

• The Rasika restaurateur's first fine-dining Indian restaurant always charms — yes, that's live piano in the dining room — with a terrific vegetarian thali included at $35 brunch and $55 dinner.

Central

• Restaurant Week at the late Michel Richard's Penn Quarter institution is a D.C. rite of passage — just like the goat cheese Caesar and Michel's legendary fried chicken ($35 lunch, $55 dinner).

More classics...

Virginia voters are back at the polls today for the third statewide election in nine months — and the biggest ballot is still ahead.

Why it matters: We're in the middle of one of the busiest voting stretches the state has seen in years.

Catch up quick: Since November, Virginia voters have:

• Elected a new governor.
• Approved a congressional redistricting referendum, which the state Supreme Court later threw out.
• And are now picking nominees for November races that could help determine control of the U.S. House.

Zoom in: Next comes a November ballot that will include:

• Sen. Mark Warner's reelection race.
• Constitutional amendments on abortion rights, marriage equality, and automatic voting rights for people with felony convictions upon release from prison.

🗳️ The intrigue: Voters will have about six weeks before early in-person voting starts for November's election. Lawmakers pushed the primary from June to August while the redistricting fight played out.

🏛️ Maryland lawmakers gathered yesterday for a special session that could set the stage for redrawing the state's congressional map before 2028. Democrats say it's a response to GOP redistricting elsewhere, while Republicans call it a blatant power grab. (AP)

🏗️ Amazon wants to build four data centers on George Washington University's former Ashburn campus, which it bought earlier this year for $427 million. The proposal faces backlash, with Loudoun County officials trying to curb data center development. (WBJ)

🐼 It's Bao Li's fifth birthday! Celebrate with the zoo starting at 9am with a shark-themed panda party — pandas love sharks! — and a birthday cake fit for a bear.

🎃 Too soon? La Colombe cafés are bringing back their draft pumpkin spice lattes today.

The Mubadala DC Open wrapped a day late after Sunday's rain washed out both singles finals — but the extra wait ended with a history-making champion.

Driving the news: Alex Eala captured her first WTA title, becoming the first Filipina to win a WTA 500 crown. The 21-year-old upset top-seeded Jessica Pegula in the final.

• On the men's side, 28-year-old American star Taylor Fritz won his first title of the season and the 11th of his career.