Central Unitarian Church Hosting
Life-Giving Blood & Bone Marrow Drive

November 10, 2013

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Paramus- Central Unitarian Church, a unitarian universalist congregation, is partnering with Community Blood Services and its HLA Registry to host a life-giving blood and bone marrow drive on Sunday, November 10 from 12 noon to 4 p.m.

Registration for the blood drive and The HLA Registry will be inside the church at 156 Forest Avenue. Volunteer donors can donate whole blood or automated double red cells on the bloodmobile in the parking lot.

The public is encouraged to take 10 minutes to join the national Be The Match bone marrow registry through The HLA Registry by getting a simple cheek swab and filling out a short form. To register you just need to be 18-44 years of age and willing to donate for any patient in the world. Click here to learn more about the bone marrow drive on November 10. If you are unable to attend the November 10th drive but would still like to register, you can also click here to join through our virtual drive.

Donors with diverse or ethnic backgrounds are especially needed for the bone marrow registry because patients in need of transplants are most likely to match someone who shares their same race or ethnicity.

For thousands of patients with life-threatening diseases such as leukemia and lymphoma, a marrow transplant from an unrelated donor is their best or only hope for a cure. These patients depend on the Be The Match Registry to find a match � and get a second chance at life. While many patients do find the lifesaving matches they need, more donors are needed to help increase the likelihood that all patients will find their matches.

Social outreach is a key ministry of Central Unitarian Church. Other church-sponsored events include the annual rummage sale on October 17, 18 and 19, which provides area families access to essential household items. And its Outreach Auction on Saturday, November 16 provides proceeds to many Bergen County non-profit organizations. The congregation also supports the Center for Food Action in Englewood.

�We all have the power to heal, the power to save a life,� says Patrice Foresman, HLA Registry coordinator. �See you on Sunday, November 10!�

The HLA Registry at Community Blood Services will be on hand to register volunteer marrow donors. To register you just need to be 18-44 years of age and willing to donate for any patient in the world.