Abiding Presence Lutheran Church will host a community blood drive in partnership with American Red Cross Penn-Jersey Blood Services on Thursday, March 3, from 2:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the church fellowship hall at 2220 Pennington Road (Route 31), in Ewing.
The goal for the drive is to see at least 40 donors.
Most donated red blood cells must be used within 42 days of collection, so donors are always in constant demand. Patients with cancer, victims of accidents, and those undergoing surgery are just some of the recipients who benefit from blood donations.
One pint of blood has the potential to save up to three lives. Blood cannot be manufactured — it can only come from donors.
The Red Cross encourages eligible donors of all races and ethnicities to give blood or platelets. Blood type, like eye color, is an inherited trait passed genetically from parents.
Most blood types fall into one of the four major blood groups: A, B, AB or O. For patients with rare blood types, finding a donor with the same blood type can be difficult and they are typically less likely to have complications from blood donated by someone with a similar ethnicity.
Blood donors with all types, especially O positive, O negative and B negative, are urged to give. Platelet donors and those with type AB blood are also continually needed. Blood can be safely donated every 56 days and platelets can be given every seven days — up to 24 times a year.
To protect the blood supply, the American Red Cross is closely monitoring the Zika virus. Persons who have recently traveled to Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America or South America are urged to schedule their next blood or platelet donation at least 28 days after their return to the continental U.S.
Anyone who is at least 17 years old, weighs a minimum of 110 pounds and is in generally good health can donate blood (16-year-olds can donate with parental permission, but should call for forms). The entire process takes about an hour and all blood types are needed. Donors should bring a photo ID.
Penn-Jersey Blood Services Region serves southeastern Pennsylvania and all of New Jersey. It is committed to saving patients’ lives by providing blood products, medical expertise and scientific discovery.
To schedule an appointment to donate blood, contact David Olson at 609-737-1130 or sign up at redcross.org (using the sponsor code “AbidingPresence”). Walk-ins are also welcome at this drive.
