Make Your Lifesaving Donation or Schedule a Blood Drive To Prevent Annual Holiday Blood Shortage

December 2011

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Patrice Foresman, recruitment director at Community Blood Services (left) and Pastor Daniel Lee (center) and Victor Lozada (right), both with the Church of God, are preparing for the church�s annual December blood drive with Community Blood Services.

Community Blood Services is urging all individuals eligible to donate blood this holiday season to give the gift of life at one of its New Jersey donation sites or mobile blood drives and help prevent an anticipated blood shortage. In addition, it is asking local community groups and businesses to step up and host mobile blood drives during the critical winter months of December and January.

All blood types and products are in demand at this time of the year, including Type O negative which can be transfused to patients with any blood type, especially in emergency situations. Platelets for cancer patients and plasma for trauma victims also are needed.

"When the holiday season arrives, people are so busy traveling, shopping, and performing other holiday tasks that they forget the need for blood and platelets does not take a vacation. We still need continuous donations to meet the needs of the seriously ill patients in the more than 25 hospitals we serve," said Karen Ferriday, community affairs director at Community Blood Services.

"Scheduling your donation appointment during December or January, or sponsoring a blood drive during these critical months, can really make a difference in someone�s life during the holidays," Ferriday said.

Individual donors can schedule appointments and get locations and hours of donor centers or mobile drives in their area at www.communitybloodservices.com or by calling 866-228-1500. Churches, community groups, schools or businesses who want to schedule mobile blood drives can call 201-705-1603. An account manager will be assigned to work with you to make your drive successful and provide you with promotional materials for your drive.

Patrice Foresman, director of recruitment at Community Blood Services, pointed to The World Mission Society Church of God in Ridgewood as the perfect example of a group always ready to respond to the traditional blood shortages that occur during both the winter and summer months.

"Church of God purposefully schedules one of its blood drives in December, and another in the summer, when blood donations are at their lowest to ensure blood is available for patients who need it," Foresman said. She noted that the December 2010 church drive resulted in more than 168 lifesaving donations, while more than 160 lifesaving units were collected at the drive in July. (Click here to view a video from one of Church of God�s lifesaving blood drives with Community Blood Services.)

Foresman said Church of God�s next community blood drive is scheduled for Sunday, December 11 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 305 Godwin Avenue, Ridgewood, New Jersey. Anyone wishing to donate at the drive, which is open to the public, can schedule an appointment to donate by calling 201-251-3703. Walk-ins on the day of the drive are also welcome. Registration and screening will take place in the church lobby and bloodmobiles in the parking lot.

Pastor Daniel Lee noted, "At the Church of God we take to heart that all life is given from a mother, who delivers life to her child through her blood. In the same way, when we give blood, it is another chance to give the gift of life."

"Our hope is that more community groups and businesses like Church of God will step up this holiday season and help their critically ill community members when their help is so urgently needed," Foresman said. "Every few seconds someone needs blood�.it could be a friend, a family member or maybe even you!"