Lawrenceville Blood Drive Events Part Of Push For 'Diversified Blood Supply'

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ — A pair of upcoming blood donation events in Lawrenceville are part of the American Red Cross’s push to ensure a diversified blood supply. Both events are on Wednesday, Oct. 11.

One takes place at 1009 Lenox Drive, Suite 202, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The other takes place at Eaves Lawrenceville, 1000 Avalon Way, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.

“Some blood types are unique to certain racial and ethnic groups, so a diverse blood supply is important to meeting the medical needs of an increasingly diverse patient population,” the Red Cross said in a release. “Patients who need repeated transfusions, like 11-year-old Tymia McCullough who has sickle cell disease, must have blood that is matched very closely. Patients are less likely to have complications from blood donated by someone with a similar ethnicity.”

Donors of all racial and ethnic backgrounds, as well as all blood types, are needed to help patients fight sickle cell disease, alpha thalassemia and other illnesses. In addition to the blood drive event, donations can be made anytime.

Make an appointment to give blood by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). To help reduce wait times, donors are encouraged to make appointments and complete the RapidPass online health history questionnaire at redcrossblood.org/RapidPass.

Patch file photo