Giving Blood Is a Gift of Life

Somerville, January 11, 2007 - Giving blood is a gift of life, a truly selfless act. In one hour, your donation can save up to three lives. It's that simple. The tragedy is that many people who can give, don't. Nationwide, 65% of all Americans, anyone 17 and older and weighing at least 110 pounds, can donate. Only 5% actually donate blood. In New Jersey that number drops to about 2%, leaving our communities continuously in short supply.

For those who do give, we hope that you take the time to donate at an American Red Cross sponsored blood drive. Then you are not only saving a life, you are breathing life into all the programs and services that the Red Cross provides in the community. The Greater Somerset County Chapter of the American Red Cross has been providing services in the community since 1917. For 90 years, the support from residents of Somerset County has enabled our volunteers and staff to: deliver tens of thousands of hours of lifesaving health and safety training, pay the cost of disaster response and relief including food, shelter and clothing and other related services, sponsor youth programs, provide education to help residents prepare for disasters and emergencies and provide medical transportation to residents in need.

Many blood donors give but may not understand the process. The Greater Somerset County Chapter partners with an authorized blood center. Our chapter team works with individuals and groups that want to host a drive. We help with logistics and provide on-site volunteers at an event. The blood center draws the blood. Our goal is to make the process easy for those who want to host a drive and comfortable for the donors.

If you were to stop by our chapter house, you would see vintage Red Cross war posters urging citizens to give blood as part of their civic duty because the need was so great. The need is great today, and not just because we are in a war. Americans need blood every 3 seconds. You have a gift of life, but it's not a gift unless you give. If you would like to learn how easy it is to save a life, visit our web-site at http://greatersomerset.redcross.org or contact Susan Caden, our Program Coordinator at 908-725-2217 to get the facts about blood donation. We can help you to set up an American Red Cross sponsored blood drive