Blood Drive Will Honor Late Nutley Cupcake Guru, Keith Jaret

NUTLEY, NJ — A beloved cupcake-making icon in Nutley will be remembered with a life-saving effort in his memory.

On Monday, Jan. 28, Community Blood Services of New Jersey will host a blood drive in memory of late Nutley resident and business owner Keith Jaret, the founder of Jaret's Stuffed Cupcakes, who passed away at the age of 62 in February 2018.

According to Community Blood Services:

“Keith and Maureen Jaret have been tireless advocates for organ and tissue donation since 1991, when their daughter Megan was in need of a heart transplant, tragically passing away from infection just six weeks later. In 2011, Maureen became a living donor, donating a kidney to a friend, and in February 2018, Keith passed away due to liver disease. He was unable to receive a new liver in time. This has become a very personal and passionate cause for Maureen, prompting her to organize The Heart of the Giving, an awareness campaign directed at the importance of life saving organ donation.”

• See related article: Nutley Cupcake Shop Owner Passes Away

According to Community Blood Services, the drive will be held at the Nutley Public Affairs Building, 149 Chestnut Street, from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Donors must be between the ages of 16 and 76, weigh over 110 pounds and be “in general good health.” Walk-ins are welcome.

Community Blood Services wrote:

“New Jersey on a whole is experiencing critically low donation numbers; ranking lowest in the entire country in donations. There is an urgent need for Type O Negative, O Positive and B Negative blood types, but all types are welcome and needed.”

The event will also recognize Thyroid Awareness Month, a month dedicated to talking about thyroid disease, including the conditions and symptoms, importance of diagnosis and treatment, and diverse issues individuals face as thyroid patients.

The Nutley Health Department will be scheduling appointments during the blood drive, between the hours of 3 and 7 p.m., for thyroid and carotid artery scans. The cost is $30 and is due at the time of the screening. Payment can be by cash, check or credit card. For more information, call the Department of Public Affairs at 973-284-4976, or to schedule an appointment click on the following link: Community Blood Services

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Photo: YouTube / thestuffedcupcakes