Complimentary Gas Cards for Volunteer Donors

July 19-21, 2011

�

Community Blood Service urgently needs donors to make lifesaving blood or platelet donations at its donor centers in New Jersey and New York on Tuesday, July 12th through Thursday, July 14th. Anyone who successfully donates on those days will receive a complimentary gas card.

�Blood supplies are traditionally low during the summer months because many people go on vacation,� said Karen Ferriday, director of community affairs at Community Blood Services. �We would like to thank donors for their lifesaving donations by giving them gas cards they can use while traveling on their summer vacations.�

In New Jersey, the Paramus donor center, 970 Linwood Avenue West, will be open Tuesday and Thursday from 12 noon to 7:30 p.m., and Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Lincoln Park donor center, 63 Beaverbrook Road Suite 304, will be open Tuesday and Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

New York donors can donate at the New Windsor donor center, 575 Hudson Valley Avenue, Suite 206, on Tuesday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. or Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Or they can donate at the Florida Fire Department, 19 South Main Street, on Thursday from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.

To make an appointment at either of these locations, please call 201-251-3703 (NJ) or 845-220-2030 (NY). Walk-ins are also welcome but an appointment is needed to donate platelets, which can only be donated at one of the New Jersey donor centers.

All blood types are needed, especially O negative, A negative and B negative, in order to meet the needs of patients at area hospitals. Platelets are needed to treat patients diagnosed with cancer or other blood disorders and plasma is needed for trauma victims.

Whole blood donors must be 17-75 years old (16 years old with parental consent) and weigh at least 110 pounds. All donors will receive a complimentary mini-physical, including non-fasting cholesterol and glucose screenings.

Community Blood Service is a not-for-profit organization that provides blood and blood products to 25 hospitals in New York and New Jersey.