American Red Cross urges area residents to donate blood at local drives

The American Red Cross is urging healthy donors of all blood types to give blood to ensure a strong supply for patients as the U.S. braces for flu season while still in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Princeton area residents can donate blood at the following upcoming blood drives:

Saturday, October 31
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Palestine Masonic Lodge #111 and Princeton Masonic Lodge #38
Central Jersey Masonic Center
345 River Road
Princeton NJ 08540
Sign up by visiting RedCrossBlood.org and search sponsor code CJMasonicCenter

Monday, Nov 2
2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Stone Hill Church
1025 Bunn Drive
Princeton, NJ 08540
Sign up by visiting RedCrossBlood.org and search sponsor code StoneHillPrinceton

As a thank you for making time to donate, the Red Cross will send donors who give blood through Nov. 11 a $5 Amazon.com gift card via email, courtesy of Suburban Propane. 

The Red Cross is also testing blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies. The test may indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to the coronavirus, regardless of whether a person developed COVID-19 symptoms. Red Cross antibody tests will help identify people who have COVID-19 antibodies and may help current COVID-19 patients in need of convalescent plasma transfusions. Convalescent plasma is a type of blood donation collected from COVID-19 survivors who have antibodies. The plasma may help patients who are actively fighting the virus.

Antibody test results will be available within one to two weeks on the Red Cross Blood Donor App. You can also visit the donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org. A positive antibody test result does not confirm infection or immunity. The Red Cross is not testing donors to diagnose an illness. To protect the health and safety of Red Cross staff and donors, people who do not feel well or believe they may be ill with COVID-19 should postpone making a blood donation.