Red Cross, Hello Kitty team up for September blood drive campaign

NEW JERSEY — The American Red Cross is urging New Jersey residents to donate blood or platelets in September as the organization works to maintain the blood supply following critically low levels this summer.

The Red Cross is partnering with Hello Kitty and Friends to encourage donations. Those who donate blood or platelets from Sept. 1 through Sept. 20 will receive an exclusive Red Cross x Hello Kitty plush mascot clip and surprise sticker pack while supplies last.

According to the Red Cross, thousands of donors helped the blood supply recover during the summer, but supplies remain vulnerable heading into September. Back-to-school activities can reduce donor availability, while tropical weather systems have the potential to disrupt scheduled blood drives.

Appointments can be made through RedCrossBlood.org, the Red Cross Blood Donor App or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS.

The Red Cross announced the following New Jersey blood donation opportunities from Sept. 1 through Sept. 20:

Northern New Jersey

American Red Cross Blood Donation Center — Fairfield: 209 Fairfield Road. Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday, 7 a.m.-3 p.m.

Bergen County

• Carlstadt — Sept. 18, noon-5 p.m., Carlstadt Civic Center, 425 4th St.
• Leonia — Sept. 15, 1-6 p.m., Presbyterian Church in Leonia, 181 Fort Lee Road.
• Maywood — Sept. 20, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., American Legion Post 142, 135 E. Passaic St.
• Oakland — Sept. 1, noon-5 p.m., Northern NJ Council Scouting America, 25 Ramapo Valley Road.
• Park Ridge — Sept. 12, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Vedic Hindu Temple, 32 Park Ave.
• Ridgewood — Sept. 18, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Ridgewood YMCA, 112 Oak St.

Essex County

• Millburn — Sept. 5, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Millburn High School, 462 Millburn Ave.
• Montclair — Sept. 9, 2-7 p.m., Montclair Art Museum, 3 S. Mountain Ave.
• Newark — Sept. 16, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Essex County College Physical Education Building, 177 W. Market St.
• Newark — Sept. 16, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Newark Liberty Airport Delta Air Lines, Terminal A, 6 Earhart Drive.
• Nutley — Sept. 15, 2-7 p.m., Nutley Masonic Lodge No. 25, 175 Chestnut St.
• Upper Montclair — Sept. 3, noon-5 p.m., Montclair State University Student Center, 1 Normal Ave.

Hudson County

• Jersey City — Sept. 11, 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Jersey City Police & Fire 9/11 Memorial Blood Drive, Hyatt Regency Hotel, 2 Exchange Place.

Morris County

• Brookside — Sept. 17, noon-5 p.m., Brookside Community Club, 1 E. Main St.
• Budd Lake — Sept. 2, 1-6 p.m., Abiding Peace Lutheran Church, 305 Route 46.
• Cedar Knolls — Sept. 20, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Armour Family Y-Zone Youth Annex, 25 Saddle Road.
• Chatham — Sept. 4, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Long Hill Chapel, 525 Shunpike Road.
• Chester — Sept. 18, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Chester Library, 250 W. Main St.
• Flanders — Sept. 9, 1-6 p.m., Flanders Fire & Rescue Squad, 27 Main St.
• Madison — Sept. 10, 2-7 p.m., Madison Elks Lodge, 192 Main St.
• Morristown — Sept. 8, 1-6 p.m., Presbyterian Church of Morristown, 65 South St.
• Parsippany — Sept. 8, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Hilton Parsippany, 1 Hilton Court.
• Randolph — Sept. 11, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Bible Church International, 791 Route 10 East.

Passaic County

• Clifton — Sept. 1, 1-6 p.m., Palestinian American Community Center, 388 Lakeview Ave.
• Hawthorne — Sept. 1, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Center of North Jersey, 131 Wagaraw Road.
• Ringwood — Sept. 18, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Erskine Lakes Fire Department, 70 Mohawk Trail.

Sussex County

• Branchville — Sept. 2, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., American Legion Post 157, 325 Route 206.

Warren County

• Blairstown — Sept. 4, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Blairstown Township Municipal Building, 106 Route 94.
• Washington — Sept. 3, 1-6 p.m., Washington Borough Fire Hall, 100 Belvidere Ave.

Central New Jersey

Hunterdon County

• Flemington — Sept. 10, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Flemington Elks Lodge 1928, 165 Route 31.
• High Bridge — Sept. 18, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Host Lodge No. 6, 2 Ridge Road.
• Milford — Sept. 4, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Whispering Pines, 971 Milford Warren Glen Road.
• Whitehouse Station — Sept. 1, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Oldwick Manor, 163 Oldwick Road.

Mercer County

• Hamilton — Sept. 3, 1-6 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn Hamilton, 800 Route 130.
• Hamilton — Sept. 11, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Hamilton Area YMCA-JKR Branch, 1315 Whitehorse-Mercerville Road.
• Pennington — Sept. 19, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 300 S. Main St.
• Princeton — Sept. 15, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., BXP, 101 Carnegie Center Drive.
• Titusville — Sept. 15, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Johnson & Johnson Titusville Campus, 1125 Trenton-Harbourton Road.
• Trenton — Sept. 4, noon-5 p.m., Capital Area YMCA, 431 Pennington Ave.

Middlesex County

• Cranbury — Sept. 16, 2-7 p.m., Amazon TEB6, 22 Hightstown-Cranbury Station Road.
• East Brunswick — Sept. 17, noon-5 p.m., Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 151 Milltown Road.
• Edison — Sept. 19, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Minnie B. Veal Recreation Center, 1070 Grove Ave.
• Monmouth Junction — Sept. 19, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., South Brunswick Adult Daycare Center, 2000 Cornwall Road, Suite 500.
• Monroe Township — Sept. 9, 1-6 p.m., Jamesburg Columbian Club, 83 E. Lincoln Ave.
• Parlin — Sept. 13, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Aquatic & Fitness Center, 333 Cheesequake Road.
• Piscataway — Sept. 20, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., First Baptist Church of New Market, 450 New Market Road.
• South Amboy — Sept. 14, 1-6 p.m., South Amboy Senior Center, 108 S. Stevens Ave.
• Woodbridge Township — Sept. 3, noon-5 p.m., Colonia Fire Department, 250 Inman Ave.

Monmouth County

• Freehold — Sept. 10, 1-6 p.m., Knights of Columbus Council 1672, 70 E. Main St.
• Holmdel — Sept. 17, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Holmdel Community United Church of Christ, 40 Main St.
• Manasquan — Sept. 8, 1-6 p.m., Manasquan United Methodist Church, 23 Church St.
• Manasquan — Sept. 17, 1-6 p.m., First Baptist Church of Manasquan, 47-51 South St.

Ocean County

• Bayville — Sept. 3, noon-5 p.m., VFW Post 9503, 383 Veterans Blvd.
• Berkeley Township — Sept. 4, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Holiday City South Clubhouse A, 139 Santiago Drive.
• Manahawkin — Sept. 4, noon-5 p.m., St. Mary’s Parish, 100 Bishop Way.
• Manahawkin — Sept. 10, 1-6 p.m., Beach Haven Moose Lodge 1575, 120 Route 72.
• Manchester Township — Sept. 12, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Reserve of Lake Ridge, 707 Hollybrook Lane.
• Toms River — Sept. 2 and Sept. 16, 1-6 p.m., Days Hotel by Wyndham Toms River, 290 Route 37 East.

Somerset County

• Basking Ridge — Sept. 6, 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., St. James Roman Catholic Church, 184 S. Finley Ave.
• Basking Ridge — Sept. 20, 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 140 S. Finley Ave.
• Belle Mead — Sept. 19, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Montgomery Evangelical Free Church, 246 Belle Mead Griggstown Road.
• Gladstone — Sept. 4, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 182 Main St.
• Hillsborough — Sept. 1, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Hillsborough YMCA, 19 E. Mountain St.
• Somerville — Sept. 12, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Raritan Valley Lodge 46, 14 N. Doughty Ave.

Union County

• Berkeley Heights — Sept. 6, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Berkeley Heights YMCA, 59 Locust Ave.

Additional donation opportunities are scheduled throughout southern New Jersey, including locations in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties.

All blood types are needed. Donors generally must be in good health, weigh at least 110 pounds and meet age requirements. Donors can schedule an appointment through the Red Cross Blood Donor App, RedCrossBlood.org or by calling 1-800-733-2767.