During Childhood Cancer Awareness Month this September, the American Red Cross encourages eligible donors to give blood to support children, teens and young adults battling cancer, as well as others in need of transfusions.
Blood and platelet donations are needed to ensure blood products are available for pediatric cancer patients and others throughout this pandemic.
As a thank you, those who donate Sept. 4-8 will receive a pair of Red Cross branded socks, while supplies last.
Those who donate blood or platelets Sept. 1-30 will receive a coupon for a free haircut to Sport Clips via email several days after their donation. The coupon is valid through Nov. 30 at participating Sport Clips locations. Donors must have a valid email address on record to receive the coupon.
Use the hashtag #SavingLivesLooksGood to share new looks and invite others to give.
Make an appointment to donate by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org/sport-clips, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.
To sign up to host a blood drive this fall and winter, visit RedCrossBlood.org/HostADrive.
Important COVID-19 information for donors
The Red Cross is testing blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies. The test may indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to this coronavirus, regardless of whether they developed symptoms. Red Cross antibody tests will be helpful to identify individuals who have COVID-19 antibodies and may qualify to be convalescent plasma donors.
Convalescent plasma is a type of blood donation collected from COVID-19 survivors that have antibodies that may help patients who are actively fighting the virus.
Donors can expect to receive the results of their antibody test within 7-10 days through the Red Cross Blood Donor App or the donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org.
The Red Cross is not testing donors to diagnose illness, referred to as a diagnostic test. To protect the health and safety of Red Cross staff and donors, it is important that individuals who do not feel well or believe they may be ill with COVID-19 postpone donation.
Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions – including temperature checks, social distancing and face coverings for donors and staff – have been implemented to help protect the health of all those in attendance. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive and are required to wear a face covering or mask while at the drive, in alignment with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention public guidance.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities in Central New Jersey include:
CENTRAL NEW JERSEY
American Red Cross Blood Donation Center
Central New Jersey Donation Center
707 Alexander Road, Suite 701, Princeton Township
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday: 11:45 a.m.-8 p.m. (whole blood and platelet pheresis)
Thursday: 10 a.m.-6:15 p.m. (whole blood and platelet pheresis)
Friday, Saturday and Sunday: 7:15 a.m.-3:30 p.m. (whole blood and platelet pheresis)
Hamilton
9/2/2020: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Hamilton Area YMCA-JKR Branch, 1315 Whitehorse-Mercerville Road
Princeton
9/9/2020: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., MarketFair Mall, 3535 Route 1 S.
9/10/2020: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Princeton University, Carl A. Fields Center, 58 Prospect Ave.
9/11/2020: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Princeton University, Carl A. Fields Center, 58 Prospect Ave.
Trenton
9/15/2020: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Columbus Hall, 1451 Klockner Road
Edison
9/14/2020: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., American Legion Post No. 435, 43 Oakland Ave.
Old Bridge
9/9/2020: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Masjid Bait ul Hadi, 27 South St.
Colts Neck
9/8/2020: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Colts Neck Fire Company No. 1, 123 Route 537
Freehold
9/1/2020: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monmouth County Agricultural Building, 4000 Kozloski Road
Spring Lake
9/15/2020: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Ocean Masonic Lodge No. 89, 559 Church St.
Tinton Falls
9/3/2020: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., American Red Cross of New Jersey, 1540 W. Park Ave.
Somerville
9/3/2020: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Somerville YMCA, 2 Green St.
9/5/2020: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Victory Bible Church, 816 S. Egg Harbor Road
Bordentown
9/1/2020: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Holiday Inn Express, 195 Route 130 N.