By Dave Skutnik and Alana Mauger

People wanting to make a lifesaving difference in Montgomery County have the chance to donate blood and platelets at the new Horsham American Red Cross Blood Donation Center. The new donation center is now collecting blood and platelet donations for patients, such as those battling cancer, accident victims, transplant recipients and those living with sickle cell disease.

A formal ribbon cutting was held on morning of May 26 at the donation center, located at 116-G Welsh Road. This new center replaces the location previously open in nearby Willow Grove. Jennifer Graham, executive director, Red Cross Delaware Valley Chapter, officiated the ceremony, and long-time platelet donor Rich Mazur, of Hatfield, cut the ceremonial ribbon. They were joined by Red Crossers Guy Triano, regional CEO; David Poindexter, Philadelphia Chapter board chair; Andree Baylor-Lloyd, director of fixed site collections; and Helen Munizza, regional donor Services executive, as well as phlebotomists from the Red Cross collections team.

Horsham Township officials also attended, including Mark McCouch, council president; William Whiteside III, council vice president; William Gallagher, councilman; William Gildea-Walker, township manager; Dennis Haggerty, director of administration; Michael Shinton, director of codes and community planning; William Daly, chief of police; and Mary Marass, public relations clerk.

Having a readily available blood supply is vital for patients whose survival depends on transfusions. Donating blood is essential to community health, and volunteer donors are the only source of blood for those in need. By making an appointment to give blood or platelets at the Horsham American Red Cross Blood Donation Center, donors can feel good knowing that they may be helping patients not only in their community, but also their family and friends across the nation. 

“This much larger donor center will allow us to collect more blood products to supply to hospitals all over the Delaware Valley,” said Graham. “The blood products collected here are needed for many different reasons. Accident and burn victims, heart surgery patients, organ transplant patients, and those receiving treatment for leukemia or sickle cell disease may all need blood.”

Because of space constraints, the Red Cross was only able to collect platelets, which are in high demand by local hospitals, at its former donation Center in Willow Grove.

“Platelet collection will continue to be one of our top priorities, said Graham. “A platelet donation takes about two to three hours, and donors are encouraged to relax during the donation – videos, television and wireless internet are available here at our new location.

Platelets are the clotting portion of blood and are needed for many reasons, but they are primarily given to cancer patients. These tiny cells have a very short shelf life – just five days from the time they are donated – so there is a constant, often critical, need for new and current donors to give to keep up with hospital demand for platelets. 

In addition to these critical platelets, this new, larger donation center will provide donors additional opportunities to give whole blood and Power Red donations as well.

“Eligible donors with types O, A negative and B negative blood are urged to make a Power Red donation here in Horsham. Power Red donors give a concentrated dose of red blood cells during a single donation, allowing them to maximize their impact,” shared Graham.

The Horsham Blood Donation Center is open daily, including most holidays:

• Monday and Tuesday: 11:45 a.m.-8 p.m.
• Wednesday: 10:45 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Thursday through Sunday: 7:15 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

In addition to the Horsham Blood Donation Center, individuals will also continue to be able to give blood at Red Cross blood drives across the Southeastern Pennsylvania region.