Cherry Hill Sun

Tag: blood drive

  • Township, students partner for blood drive

    Courtesy of Cherry Hill Mayor’s Office
    Volunteers had their blood taken for donation at the township’s recent blood drive.

    Cherry Hill partnered with the American Red Cross on Aug. 1 for a five-hour blood drive at the Carmen Tilelli Community Center.

    The drive was planned through the Red Cross Leaders Save Lives Program, an initiative that encourages high-school and college students to organize and lead blood drives during breaks from school. According to the Red Cross – the largest single provider of blood and blood products nationally – someone in the U.S. needs blood or platelets every two seconds, and 29,000 units of blood are needed to keep up with the daily demand.

    The Save Lives program also offers scholarships and educational opportunities to students who choose to participate in and plan drives, as well as training and toolkits to help them smoothly run drives. Two students from Cherry Hill East led the community center drive, meeting all of the goals they set out to achieve.

    Teens from both East and the Red Cross were the first to initiate the sponsorship, reaching out to the township to arrange the drive.

    The event also aligned with Mayor Dave Fleisher’s wellness campaign and the township offered the Tilelli center as the drive’s location.

    “Partnering with the American Red Cross and two of our Cherry Hill high-school students to host a blood drive at the community center is a powerful way to bring people together for the greater good,” Fleisher said. 

    One blood donation can go to multiple people and can help save multiple lives, including those with severe physical trauma or chronic diseases like cancer or sickle cell anemia, both of which can often require multiple transfusions.

    “It gives our residents the chance to make a real impact by donating blood and helping those in need,” Fleisher noted. 

    Certain types of blood and plasma are in the highest demand; type O negative blood and type AB plasma can be given to patients with any blood type. O negative blood is only present in 7% of the U.S. population, with AB plasma only present in 4%. 

    Brian Bauerle is the chief of staff and acting business administrator for the mayor’s office. 

    “It’s very consistent with the mayor’s wellness campaign that he’s been working on throughout the year,” Bauerle explained. “So it was a perfect opportunity for us to partner on this program. The event went great. We were happy to host it.” 

  • ‘Inspiring energy’ at a community blood drive

    Courtesy of BAPS Swaminarayan Temple
    Donors check in at the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple drive on July 20, an effort to increase donations during summer, when they tend to go down.


    A steady stream of donors filed through 1 Carnegie Plaza on July 20 as the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Cherry Hill hosted a blood drive in partnership with New York Blood Center Enterprises.

    The six-hour drive drew residents from across South Jersey for a day of giving and service, including Sapana Raval, vice president of the Voorhees-Gibbsboro Lions Club, who pointed out that the need for blood donations in the state is critical.

    “Summer months tend to see a drop in donations,” she explained. “Meanwhile, hospitals continue to rely on steady supplies for surgeries, trauma and cancer care. We also have to be prepared for emergencies and natural disasters that increase demand.”

    “The motivation behind organizing this blood drive at the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple stems from our deep commitment to serving the community and fostering a culture of giving,” said Kiritkumar (KD) Patel, one of the drive’s organizers.

    “Blood donation is a vital act that can save lives,” Patel added. “By hosting this event at our temple, we aimed to inspire our community members to contribute to a noble cause.”

    BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, a globally recognized Hindu spiritual organization, is known for combining spiritual growth with community service. The blood drive reflected that dual mission, said another organizer.

    “This initiative truly embodies the values of compassion and unity that are central to our faith,” Yogini Patel related. “Our partnership with the New York Blood Center was founded on a shared vision of making a positive impact on public health. Their experience and support helped us make this event a success.”

    Blood drive volunteers managed check-ins and refreshments, with medical professionals on hand to guide each donor through the process.

    “The community’s response has been overwhelmingly positive,” KD Patel pointed out. “We had many donors walk in and express gratitude for the opportunity. The energy here today is inspiring.”

    Raval praised the drive’s calming atmosphere.

    “Staff were very attentive, making sure everyone felt safe and informed,” she said. “It’s not just about the blood – it’s about creating a positive experience so people will want to donate again.”

    Raval also offered quick after-care tips for donors: “Stay hydrated, eat something light after donating and avoid strenuous activity for the rest of the day. Most importantly, feel proud of your contribution – and consider doing it again.”

    Organizers confirmed that the temple’s blood drive won’t be its last.

    “We’re committed to doing this every year,” promised Yogini Patel. “This isn’t just a one-time act. It’s part of a larger mission to serve our neighbors and encourage a spirit of giving.”