Donate This Weekend and Receive Two Mets Tickets

July 23 & 24, 2011

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Donors who make lifesaving blood or platelet donations at a donor center in New Jersey and New York on Saturday, July 23rd or Sunday, July 24th will receive a complimentary pair of tickets to attend a New York Mets game in August.

In New Jersey, the Paramus donor center, located at 970 Linwood Avenue West, will be open for donations on both days from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Lincoln Park donor center, 63 Beaverbrook Road, Suite 304, will be open Saturday, July 23rd from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

In New York, the New Windsor donor center, 575 Hudson Valley Avenue, Suite 206, will be open Saturday, July 23rd from 8 a.m. to 12 noon.

Donors can call 866-2228-1500 or click here to schedule an appointment to donate. Platelet donations can be scheduled at one of the New Jersey donor centers.

"Blood supplies are traditionally low during the summer because of people's busy summer schedules and vacations," said Patricia Cascino, community affairs manager at Community Blood Services. "Donations are especially needed on the weekends to meet the needs of patients at community hospitals during the week ahead."

Cascino said offering the tickets to a summer baseball game is one way to thank donors for taking time out of their busy summer schedules to help save lives in their community.

Whole blood donors must be 17-75 years old (16 years old with parental permission) and weigh at least 110 pounds. Donors also receive complimentary non-fasting cholesterol and glucose health screenings.

Cascino said there is currently less than a two-day supply of blood on the shelves. All blood types are needed, especially O negative, O positive 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 AB male plasma donors are needed to treat trauma patients.

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