Volunteer Blood Donors Needed to Meet
Hospital Demand As Holiday Season Begins!

November 21 & 22, 2014

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Volunteer blood, platelet and plasma donors are being asked to take time out of their busy holiday schedules to donate at a Community Blood Services� donor center in New Jersey to help ensure there is an adequate supply on the shelves for the patients who need it during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

As a thank you, donors who give the gift of life on Friday, November 21 in our Paramus or Montvale donor rooms or on Saturday, November 22 at our Paramus or Lincoln Park donor centers will receive a Shop Rite gift card.

On Friday, donors can visit the Paramus donor center, 970 Linwood Avenue West, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the Montvale donor room, 102 Chestnut Ridge Road, between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Paramus will also be open Saturday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., while the Lincoln Park center, 63 Beaverbrook Road, Suite 304 will be open Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

"Thanksgiving traditionally marks the beginning of the holiday season, resulting in a decrease in collections due to holiday vacations, donors traveling to see family, and school closings," said Karen Ferriday, community affairs director. "We hope donors will find time to schedule an appointment to donate beforehand so we build up the supply of life-giving blood and blood products and are able to meet the needs of the more than 18 hospitals we serve in their communities.�

Donors can call 201-251-3703 to schedule an appointment to donate or click here to schedule online.

All blood types and products are needed, especially O negative, platelets and A & AB male plasma, Ferriday said, noting the blood supply is expected to start dipping as the holidays get closer. She encouraged donors to consider making an automated donation if they are eligible, which allows the center to collect multiple lifesaving products during one sitting. An automated donation can help the center better target its hospitals� needs and ease the ongoing blood shortage.

Whole blood donors must be in general good health, 17-75 years old (16 years old with parental consent) and weigh at least 110 pounds. Donors will receive complimentary health screenings, including non-fasting cholesterol and glucose health screenings, when they donate.

Community Blood Services is a not-for-profit organization that provides blood and blood products for patients in more than 18 hospitals in New Jersey and New York, including Hackensack University Medical Center, St. Joseph�s Healthcare System in Paterson/Wayne and The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood.