Rwjbarnabas health wants your blood amid winter shortage — Blood Drive

WEST ORANGE, N.J. — RWJBarnabas Health is urging the public to donate blood and platelets during its annual Winter Blood Drive Appeal as supplies reach critically low levels. The healthcare network is hosting multiple blood drives throughout January and February to replenish dwindling reserves, particularly for single-donor platelets and Type O blood, which are vital for trauma patients, childbirth complications, cancer treatments, and other emergencies.

The shortage is being compounded by typical winter challenges such as inclement weather, seasonal illnesses like the flu and RSV, and the holiday season. “Blood collection during the winter months is always challenging,” said Sally Wells, Business Development and Community Liaison for Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital’s 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.”

To help address the shortfall, RWJBarnabas Health has organized blood drives at various locations statewide. Upcoming drives include Jersey City Medical Center on January 16, Bradley Beach Recreation Center on January 21, and Monmouth Medical Center-Southern Campus on January 30. February locations include Rutgers University, Seton Hall University, and the Knights of Columbus in Dunellen.

Platelet donors in January will receive a $25 gift card as a thank-you for their contributions. Donors must meet eligibility requirements, including being at least 16 years old with parental consent, weighing at least 110 pounds (120 pounds for those aged 16), and presenting photo identification.

For a full list of dates and locations or more information about donating, visit RWJBarnabas Health’s website. The network emphasizes the critical role blood donors play in saving lives during emergencies and medical treatments.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.