The American Red Cross cut the ribbon on its fourth donation center, located in Delran, on March 11, with state Sen. Troy Singleton, Assemblyman Roy Frieman, donors and Red Cross volunteers and employees on hand.
The new Red Cross donation center is collecting blood and platelet donations for patients, such as those battling cancer, accident victims, transplant recipients and those with sickle cell disease.
The statistics are jarring: Every two seconds, somebody in the U.S. needs blood.
“Donated blood is perishable,” said Rosie Taravella, CEO of American Red Cross New Jersey Region. “Red blood cells have a shelf life of only 42 days and platelets only five days, so they must constantly be replenished.”
Now interested donors have a new fixed site to donate. The American Red Cross cut the ribbon on its fourth donation center, located in Delran, on March 11, with state Sen. Troy Singleton, Assemblyman Roy Frieman, donors and Red Cross volunteers and employees on hand.
The new site joins Pennsauken, Princeton and Fairfield donation centers in the state. It is collecting blood and platelet donations for patients, such as those battling cancer, accident victims, transplant recipients and those with sickle cell disease.
“As a national network, the Red Cross has a unique responsibility to help ensure blood is available for patients whenever and wherever is needed,” Taravella explained. “Eligible donors can feel good knowing that donating through Red Cross, they may be helping patients not only in the community, but also their family and friends across the nation.
“One in seven patients entering a hospital will need a blood transfusion …” she added. “That’s a lot. So every day, volunteer donors roll up their sleeves at Red Cross Blood drives to help save the lives of people with life-threatening injuries from complicated child births, cancer and sickle cell disease.”
Taravella noted that March is Red Cross Month, an observance that began more than 80 years ago. She also stressed that the organization and its work is powered by “90% volunteers.”
Feiman recalled that when he turned into the new Delran location, he thought he had the wrong directions.
“I pulled into a shopping center,” he recounted of his thoughts. ” … This is not where blood centers are located. I thought it was wonderful … to set up a blood center right here where people come. How convenient it is, easy to park.
“From our standpoint from the legislature, it is so nice to be able to see the budget resolution and what we fight for … to actually come about, because it takes time.”
Feiman praised the site’s thoughtful ambience, from a welcoming intake area to televisions on the beds for long plasma donations. He likened it to being able to “eat cookies” after trips to Disney World.
“This is a magical place … it’s the only place where you can actually eat cookies and not feel bad, in fact, you are encouraged to eat cookies,” he quipped.
Singleton thanked all the volunteers for their time.
“We have to remind everyone we can’t manufacture blood,” he pointed out. “The supply of blood is strictly from those of us willing to donate our blood, and because we can’t manufacture it, we realize how important it is and how it changes lives.”
For Red Cross Month, the organization will perform free A1C testing (commonly used to screen for prediabetes and diabetes) on successful blood and platelet donations made through Monday, March 31. Those who give this month will get a $10 Amazon gift card by email. More details can be found at RedCrossBlood.org/March. Â
In addition to the Delran Blood Donation Center, individuals can continue to give blood at Red Cross blood drives across New Jersey. The organization will hold a free community day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday at Holy Cross Prep, 5035 U.S. 130. Visitors will learn about Red Cross services from disaster response, blood donations to life- skills training.
The new donation center is located at 5029 U.S. 130, Suite 450, in Delran and will be open four days a week. Hours are:
- Tuesday and Wednesday: 11:45 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Thursday: 10:15 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Saturday: 7:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
