Save A Life By Donating Blood At These NJ Locations While Supply Is Low

NEW JERSEY — You can take a little time to give the great big gift of life for the holidays by donating blood at several drives that have been scheduled around New Jersey in the next two weeks. There are even gifts for donating at some locations.

Supplies of donated blood are low amid the pandemic, but people are still having emergencies.

Here are two places to find an upcoming drive near you:

• The Red Cross is holding blood drives around New Jersey. They are giving out free t-shirts and other items for those who donate by Jan. 2. You can input your zip code here to find a drive near you: RedCrossBloodDrives
• The New York Blood Center also has several New Jersey drives coming up. Read more here: www.nybloodcenter.org

The New York Blood Center announced a "blood emergency" on Dec. 1, according to a story in NorthJersey.com.

Diane Concannon of the Red Cross noted noting that corporate donations are down because people are not going into the office.

Here are just some of the drives coming up, but double check using the websites above:

Just Some Of The Upcoming Drives, By Town

• Hoboken, Jan. 25, 10-4: Hoboken Police Dept., 106 Hudson St.
• Jersey City, Jan. 7: 1-7 p.m., Newport Centre Mall, 30 Mall Drive West
• Jersey City, Jan. 21: 1-7 p.m., Newport Centre Mall, 30 Mall Drive West
• Montclair, Jan. 2: 10-3 p.m., YMCA, 25 Park St.
• Ramsey, Dec. 30, 12:30-5:30, Hawthorne-Fortitude Masonic Lodge No. 200, 24 Franklin Turnpike
• Secaucus, Jan. 18, 1-7 p.m., Immaculate Conception Church, 780 Post Place
• Woodbridge, Jan. 4, 12-5, Woodbridge Township Ambulance & Rescue Squad,
  77 Queen Street, Iselin (Gift card for donating)

Again, check the links above to confirm before heading over.

The New York Blood Center noted, "Blood products have a short shelf life – from five to 42 days, so constant replenishment is necessary. Each day there are patients who depend on the transfusion of red blood cells, platelets and plasma to stay alive. But blood and blood products can’t be manufactured."

For information on how to organize a blood drive, call toll free: 1-800-933-2566. Or visit: www.nybloodcenter.org

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