Jan 8, 2025 RWJBarnabas Health Makes Annual Winter Blood Drive Appeal

January and February Blood Drives Being Hosted Around the State

West Orange, NJ, January 8, 2025— January is National Blood Donor Month, and RWJBarnabas Health is making its annual Winter Blood Drive Appeal encouraging life-saving blood and platelet donations by hosting several blood drives in January and February across its healthcare facilities to help replenish supply levels and mitigate shortages.

There is a critical need for single-donor platelets, and positive and negative Type O blood is extremely low, with less than a 3-day supply available. These life-saving donations are given to patients during traumatic events such as car and home accidents, childbirth, cancer care, and mass casualty events.

“Blood collection during the winter months is always challenging due to when the holidays fall, inclement weather, or increased rates of illnesses like the flu and RSV,” said Sally Wells, Business Development and Community Liaison for Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital’s (RWJUH) Blood Donor Services “If any of these events happen, we could be in for a very challenging January. We celebrate and thank all the volunteer blood donors for their meaningful support and life-saving gifts, not just during National Blood Donor Month but year-round.

A full list of upcoming blood drives include:

January

  • January 16, 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m.: Jersey City Medical Center, 355 Grand Street, Conference Room 5, Jersey City, NJ
  • January 21, 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.: Bradley Beach Recreation Center, 39 ½ Main Street, Main Room, Bradley Beach, NJ
  • January 25, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.: Reformed Church of Highland Park, 19-21 South 2nd Ave., Hospitality Room, Highland Park, NJ
  • January 27, 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.: Maternal Health Blood Drive at Bradley Gardens Volunteer Fire Company, 24 Old York Road, Catering Hall, Bridgewater, NJ
  • January 30, 1-7 p.m.: Monmouth Medical Center-Southern Campus, 600 River Avenue, Conference Rooms A, B, C, Lakewood, NJ

February

  • February 4, 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: Deal Sephardic, 244 Norwood Avenue, Lounge, Oakhurst, NJ
  • February 5, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.: Rutgers University, The Yard-40 College Avenue. Commons 1st Floor Lounge, New Brunswick, NJ
  • February 6, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.: Rutgers University, The Yard-40 College Avenue. Commons 1st Floor Lounge, New Brunswick, NJ
  • February 12, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.: Community Medical Center, 99 Hwy. 37 West, Auditoriums A & B, Toms River, NJ
  • February 19, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.: Seton Hall University, 400 South Orange Avenue, University Center, Event Room, South Orange, NJ
  • February 20, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.: Seton Hall University, 400 South Orange Avenue, University Center, Event Room, South Orange, NJ
  • February 23, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Embrace Kids- Tackle Sickle Cell at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, 1 Robert Wood Johnson Place, Arline and Henry Schwartzman Courtyard, New Brunswick, NJ
  • February 27, 2-7:30 p.m.: Knights of Columbus, 647 Grove Street, Meeting Room, Dunellen, NJ

All January platelet donors will receive a $25 gift card as a special thank you.

Donors must be 16 or older, weigh at least 110 pounds (120 pounds if 16 years old), and present photo identification. Donors who are 16 and 17 years old require written parental consent. If the donor has a history of viral hepatitis at age 11 or older or is recovering from an infectious illness, they are ineligible to donate.

To make an appointment at a fixed RWJUH Donor Room or to find a blood drive location near you, please visit https://www.rwjuhdonorclub.org or call 732-235-8100 ext. 221.

About RWJBarnabas Health

RWJBarnabas Health is New Jersey’s largest and most comprehensive academic health system, caring for more than five million people annually. Nationally renowned for quality and safety, the system includes 14 hospitals and 9,000 affiliated physicians integrated to provide care at more than 700 patient care locations.

RWJBarnabas Health partners with its diverse communities to build and sustain a healthier New Jersey. It provides patient-centered care in a compassionate and equitable manner and is the state’s largest safety-net provider and leader in addressing the social determinants of health. RWJBarnabas Health provides food to the hungry, housing for the homeless and economic opportunities to those most vulnerable.

RWJBarnabas Health’s commitment to enhancing access to care includes a transformative partnership with Rutgers University, including the Rutgers Cancer Institute — the state's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

RWJBarnabas Health is among New Jersey’s largest private employers, with more than 43,000 employees, contributing more than $5.5 billion to the state economy every year. For more information, visit www.RWJBH.org

Contact: Carrie Cristello
carrie.cristello@rwjbh.org