Drives In Bergen, Passaic Counties To Help Blood Shortages

Several blood donation drives are scheduled in Bergen and Passaic counties throughout August, giving residents the chance to roll up a sleeve and make a dent in an emergency blood shortage across the country.

Vitalant, formerly known as Community Blood Services, will host 56 events to supply blood and blood products to hospitals in the New Jersey-New York region.

Within Bergen and Passaic counties, collection drives will be held at the following locations:

• Hackensack, First Presbyterian Church, 64 Passaic Street – Aug. 4, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Montvale, National Night Out Event, 12 Memorial Drive – Aug. 6, 5 to 8 p.m.
• Englewood, Public Library, 31 Engle Street – Aug. 8, 2 to 7 p.m.
• Wayne, Willowbrook Center, 201 Willowbrook Boulevard – Aug. 14, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• Rutherford, Boiling Springs Bank, 20 Orient Way – Aug. 15, noon to 6 p.m.
• Wayne, St. Joseph’sWayne Medical Center, 224 Hamburg Turnpike – Aug. 15, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Woodland Park, Passaic County Fair, Garrett Mountain, 8 Mountain Avenue – Aug. 16, 5 to 9 p.m.
• Oakland, ShopRite, 14 Post Road – Aug. 16, 3 to 7 p.m.
• Clifton, Stop & Shop, 1185 Broad Street – Aug. 19, 3 to 7 p.m.
• Wayne, Stop & Shop, 1220 Hamburg Turnpike – Aug. 19, 3:30 to 7:30 p.m.
• Hackensack, Bergen County Courthouse, 10 Main Street – Aug. 20, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Ringwood, St. Catherine School, 112 Erskine Road – Aug. 24, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Paterson, First Seventh Day Adventist Church, 343 Eleventh Avenue – Aug. 25, noon to 4 p.m.
• Cliffside Park, Epiphany Church, 247 Knox Avenue – Aug. 25, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Little Falls, Masonic Lodge, 14 Lincoln Avenue – Aug. 25, 4 to 8 p.m.
• Paterson, Islamic Center of Paterson, 152 Derrom Avenue – Aug. 30, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.
• North Arlington, LaSalle Center, 220 Ridge Road – Aug. 31, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Click here for a list of every event scheduled.

According to Vitalant, the national shortage is “severe”and “continuing. Donations have been down this summer across the country, according to the Red Cross. Currently, it has less than a three-day supply of most blood types and less than a two-day supply of type O blood. The organization is continuing its call for people to give blood or platelets, a donation that could potentially save someone’s life.

Know Before You Go

• Donors must be healthy individuals age 16 or older, who weigh at least 110 pounds.
• Donors who are 16 or 17-years-old must have proof of birth and a signed consent form.
• Donors should eat a small meal prior to giving blood, as well as bring identification that includes their signature.
• Donors should call 201-251-3703 to confirm timing and location details prior to attending a donation event.

Additional information is available at vitalant.org.

The nonprofit blood collection organization also operates four blood centers in New Jersey where donors can give blood.

• 63 Beaverbrook Road, Suite 304, Lincoln Park (Open Tuesday 1 to 9 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on the first and third Saturday of the month from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
• 102 Chestnut Ridge Road, Montvale (Open Wednesday noon to 8 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
• One West Ridgewood Avenue, Suite 208, Paramus (Open Monday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday 1 to 9 p.m., Wednesday 1 to 9 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Weekends 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
• 1259 Route 46 East, Building #4E, Suite 410, Parsippany (Thursday 1 to 9 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.)