Former BCNJ Donors Welcomed Donor Center in Parsippany Will Reopen February 23

February 23, 2015

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Community Blood Services, headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey, will reopen the Parsippany donor center that was shut down following the closing of the East Orange-based Blood Center of New Jersey (BCNJ).

A not-for-profit healthcare organization, Community Blood Services is one of the largest providers of blood products and transfusion services needed by patients in area hospitals. Serving its community for more than 60 years, it supplies 30 hospitals in New Jersey and New York.

"We are excited to be reopening the donor center in Parsippany to platelet and blood donors three days a week starting Monday, February 23," said Kathleen McKenna, vice president of operations at Community Blood Services.

The donor site, which is located at 1259 Route 46 East, Suite 12 in Building 4, will be open on Mondays, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Thursdays, 12 noon to 8 p.m.; and Sundays, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Donors are asked to call 201-251-3733 to schedule their appointments at the Parsippany Donor Center or click here to schedule their donations online.

"We hope that BCNJ�s dedicated blood and platelet donors will continue making their lifesaving donations with us to help ensure an adequate supply is always on hand for patients who need life-giving transfusions. The recent snowstorms and frigid temperatures have resulted in an urgent, ongoing need, especially for platelet and Type O negative donors," McKenna said.

McKenna said platelets are needed to help patients in our community hospitals who have cancer and other blood disorders. She said platelets must constantly be replenished because they only have a five-day shelf life. The need for donors increased after Community Blood Services took on the additional responsibility of supplying blood and platelets to some of BCNJ�s hospital clients when BCNJ closed in December.

Community Blood Services has been working hard to establish a long-term relationship with BCNJ�s donors and blood drive sponsors in support of the blood needs of New Jersey�s hospital patients, McKenna said. A number of BCNJ�s frontline staff has been hired by Community Blood Services to continue to serve donors, blood drive sponsors and hospitals.