A national blood crisis is making headlines, and Floridians 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: OneBlood coordinates blood donation in much of Florida and also recently declared a shortage, particularly of type O-positive and O-negative.

• Find a blood drive near you by entering your ZIP code online.
• The nonprofit also has several donation centers in Tampa Bay where donors can schedule appointments.

Go deeper: A pro donor's guide to giving blood

Tampa Bay's unemployment rate edged lower in June in tandem with the national rate, dropping the metro area's jobless rate to a seasonally adjusted 4.8%, new federal data shows.

Why it matters: Nearly half of the cities and metro areas tracked in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics jobs report posted higher unemployment rates, but even with its decline Tampa Bay's figure remains higher than the national average.

By the numbers: The Tampa-St. Pete-Clearwater Metropolitan Statistical Area's unemployment rate is 0.6 percentage points above the national average and is higher than 75% of the areas surveyed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The big picture: The lowest rate was Rapid City, South Dakota, which ticked just below 2%

• The highest was Southern California's El Centro at just under 19%, while Visalia, California, also topped 10%.

Context: Our area added 3,600 jobs since last June. The state added 41,200 jobs during the same period.

What we're watching: The Fed's policymaking committee appears to be more focused on inflation than the job market. They left their key interest rate unchanged on Wednesday, leaving interest rates on credit cards and car loans elevated.

The bottom line: A stable local employment picture can be welcome news, but it doesn't necessarily translate into relief for household budgets.

🛌 The Hillsborough CARE Center, a renovated 60-bed shelter for veterans experiencing homelessness, has opened in Tampa. Hillsborough County contributed more than $4 million for improvements. (Bay News 9)

✂️ Four local charter schools are shutting down, citing enrollment and financial challenges. The abrupt closures prompted school board members to call for more accountability for charters. (Tampa Bay Times)

🍗 Bojangles hopes to have 20 to 25 locations in Tampa Bay within the next eight years. The fried chicken chain with locations in Lutz and Pinellas Park is recruiting franchise operators. (Tampa Bay Business & Wealth)

🚶Barrio Walk, a door-to-door effort by the Tampa Immigrants Rights Committee, is seeking to give local residents and business owners tips on coping with ramped-up immigration enforcement. (Times)

The weekend approaches. Here are some fun events to check out on the Pinellas side of the bay.

🍻 Gecko Pub Crawl: A $32 ticket to this annual event in Gulfport gets you one drink at six area bars: The North End Tap House, Stella's, Neptune Grill, O'Maddy's, Hurricane Eddie's and Gulfport Brewery.

• 4-9pm Saturday. After party at Hurricane Eddie's.

🛍️ The Market Marie: This free event at Clearwater's Coachman Park features over 125 vendors and artisans, plus a DJ, a play area for kids, pet adoptions, a bounce house and games.

• 10am-2pm Saturday.

😋 St. Pete Foodie Fest: This event at Tropicana Field features two days of savory eats, sweet treats and a variety of local craft and artisan vendors.

• 4pm-10pm Saturday and Sunday.

🕺 Burning Love: This event celebrates the 70th Anniversary of Elvis Presley's first appearance in St. Pete. It features journalist and author Bob Kealing, whose book "Elvis Ignited!" covers Elvis's time in Florida.

• 6-8pm Friday, St. Petersburg Museum of History. Tickets: $7–15.

🏓 Back to School Bash: Squash those back-to-school blues with a morning of pickleball, crafts and kid-friendly drinks. Also features face painting, balloon animals, coloring and crafts.

• 9am-2pm Sunday at St. Pete Athletic. Free with sign-up.