A community blood drive with extended hours will be held in Lakewood next week to alleviate blood shortages in the area.

The event will be held on Thursday, July 26, at the Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus Schulman Conference Center from 11:30 am to 8:00 pm.

RWJUH Blood Services and Bikur Cholim are reaching out to the community to support what has become a critically important event.

“With less than a two day supply of most blood types on hand, the situation is serious,” Sally Wells of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Blood Services told TLS. “All the blood we collect on the 26th will remain at RWJBarnabas Health hospitals, primarily Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick.”

“Since mid June the entire state has seen the blood supply fall to very uncomfortable levels and blood centers have not been able to replenish quickly enough, especially Type O,” explains Wells. “It comes into our blood banks daily and is transfused within a few hours. Every three minutes, a patient in one of our hospitals requires a blood transfusion to save or sustain their life! There is no replacement. You can make a profound difference and save someone’s life by donating blood.”

Upon request, the hours for the event have been extended.

“We’ve gotten numerous requests to have extended hours to accommodate those from the community who’s availability only allowed for them to participate later in the day,” Wells says. “We are happy to advise you that we have extended the hours to an almost full day event! We are hoping that this will allow for many more attendees to come and donate for this much needed cause.”

All donors should eat prior to donating, and bring along a photo ID. If you have questions about your medical eligibility, you can call the RWJUBH Blood Services at 732-235-8100, ext. 248. Appointments are encouraged and available online at rwjuhdonorclub.org