Community Corner
Scotch Plains Blood Center Opens Its Doors
The center is open for preview through 7:30 p.m.
Area blood and platelet donors are being treated this afternoon to a first look at the new donation center in Scotch Plains.
The New York Blood Center's new facility, located at 2279 South Avenue, is the first fixed donation site in Union County. Jan Zepka, manager of Community and Volunteer Relations, said that before now, donors either had to visit mobile donation buses or relied on blood drives to give back.
Platelet donors who had made previous appointments were waiting outside the center's doors before it even opened at 2 p.m., Zepka said.
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"Platelet donors are very dedicated," she said, noting that Union County has the most platelets donors.
Around 2:30 p.m., the center was already bustling with workers and donors. It will remain open today until 7:30 p.m. A representative from the New York Blood Center said that while they prefer donors to make appointments, they won't turn anyone who's interested in donating away.
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While today's opening is just a preview day, those interested donating there in the future can do so soon. The center will have its grand opening from 4 to 9 p.m. on September 29. From thereafter, it will be open on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, although they're not yet sure of the exact hours.
The center, which is part of the NYBC's NJ Blood Services division, will also be getting several art works from the Gallery at South Avenue to display throughout the space.
Those interested in making an appointment, or getting the center's hours once they open, should call 800-933-BLOOD.
