“Habitat SCNJ is committed to strengthening our community any way we can, including helping local hospitals and its patients in need of blood donations,” said Annie Fox, Chief Development Officer, “Building affordable homes takes blood, sweat, and tears, so what’s another few drops? This blood drive is our way of giving staff, colleagues and neighbors an opportunity to help improve lives in another way.”
According to the Red Cross, blood is a perishable product that can only come from volunteer blood donors. With someone in the U.S. needing blood every two seconds, blood products must be constantly replenished, so that patients with cancer and other diseases, premature babies, organ transplant recipients and trauma victims can receive live saving transfusions. Habitat SCNJ has committed 40 of its staff and volunteers to donate at the event on Monday, but more is needed.
“We urge community members to donate blood and help ensure that patients in local hospitals have a supply of blood ready and waiting before an emergency occurs. There’s no better feeling than knowing that your blood donation may give someone a second chance at life,” says Annie.
Donors of all blood types are needed, especially those with types O negative, B negative and A negative. According to the Red Cross, type O negative is the universal blood type that can be safely transfused to anyone, and is often used to treat trauma patients.