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A Village United for Life
RIDGEWOOD,
NJ � On Saturday July 20th the Ridgewood Blood Donors Association
is sponsoring a village-wide blood drive with Community Blood
Services of Paramus to help meet the pressing need for blood
of all types this summer.
The
event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran
Church, 155 Linwood Avenue (one block west of Graydon Pool).
Ample parking is available at the church.
Currently,
Community Blood Services has less than a one-day supply of
blood on hand for the 34 hospitals it services in northern
New Jersey and New York.
�There
are very disturbing trends appearing in the blood supply on
regional levels,�� said Dr. Dennis Todd, president and CEO
of the blood center. �In the New York metropolitan area we
are seeing sustained shortages which ultimately will hurt
our community.�
�The
summer is the worst time of year for blood donations because
many donors go on vacation, making it difficult to maintain
an adequate blood supply,� according to Susan Mysliwiec, the
center�s donor recruitment director.
The
Ridgewood police, fire and emergency service departments,
The Valley Hospital and the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce
are co-sponsoring the blood drive.
Mayor
Jane Reilly calls the blood drive �an example of the community
spirit that our village residents continually exhibit, which
represents one of the great strengths of Ridgewood.�
�The
village response to our call for blood to meet the needs of
one of our colleagues in May brought home to us the generous
support we have from our community, � added Fire Chief James
Bombace. �Our department is happy to support this drive, and
we urge all village residents who can to participate.�
According
to Police Chief William Corcoran, �The Ridgewood Police Department
knows the importance of an adequate blood supply to meet the
needs of people involved in emergencies to which we respond
regularly. We are glad to join with our fellow residents in
helping meet this important community need.�
Officers
in the department of Emergency Services experience firsthand
the need for a ready blood supply to meet the emergency needs
of its community. Director Bob Greenlaw calls on �all residents
of Ridgewood who can donate blood to do so in this all-village
drive so that they and their neighbors will have the protection
they require in emergencies.�
While
urging the widest possible turnout at the July 20th drive,
Kathy Murray, president of the Ridgewood Blood Donors Association,
encourages those who are not available to donate that day
to call Community Blood Services at 201-251-3703 to make an
appointment to donate at the center, 970 Linwood Avenue West,
Paramus. Walk-ins are also welcome.
Hours
at the center are Monday through Friday, 8am to 8pm and Saturday,
9am to 2 pm. Please mention the Ridgewood Blood Drive when
you donate.
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