Donors are invited to Community Blood Services� annual Halloween parties to be held at the blood centers in Paramus, NJ and Goshen, NY.

There will be music, Halloween treats, and a surprise gift bag filled with Halloween goodies offered to each person who donates at either location.

Anyone who donates blood, platelets or plasma at the Paramus blood center, 970 Linwood Avenue West, from Monday, October 28^th through Wednesday, October 30^th can participate. The hours are noon to 8 p.m.

Those donating blood at the blood center in Eastgate Corporate Park, 7 Coates Drive, Suite 5 in Goshen between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tuesday, or 12 noon and 8 p.m. Wednesday, also can participate.

For the past several months the blood center has only had a one-day supply of blood on hand, and that shortage is continuing. It is expected to worsen as new FDA restrictions for mad cow disease go into effect at the end of the month and the holiday season approaches.

�All blood types are needed,� said Susan Mysliwiec, director of donor recruitment. �Most people don�t realize that less than 5% of the population donates, even though 80% of the population needs blood. We need all healthy individuals to donate if we�re going to meet the demand of our hospitals.�

Community Blood Services provides blood and blood products to 33 hospitals in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris and Passaic counties in New Jersey, as well as to hospitals in New York City and Orange and Rockland counties in New York.

Whole blood donors must be17-75 years old and must weigh at least 115 pounds.

The Paramus site is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Donors also can call for convenient hours to donate at sites in Rutherford, Englewood, Wayne, Pompton Plains, and Westwood.

The Goshen site is open Tuesdays and Fridays, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Wednesdays and Thursdays, 12 noon to 8 p.m.; and Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 12 noon. Donors also can call for convenient hours to donate at sites in Newburgh, Monroe, Middletown and New City.

A non-profit organization, Community Blood Services is not affiliated with the American Red Cross. It is a member of America�s Blood Centers (ABC), a network of non-profit community blood centers located in 45 states that collects about half of the U.S. blood supply.

For more information, or to make an appointment to donate whole blood, please call 201-251-3703.

Limk for a list of local blood drives