RedCrossPhillyBlog

Category: Blood Services

  • Red Cross cuts ribbon on first Bucks County donation center

    By Alana Mauger

    Red Cross officials cut the ribbon for the new Langhorne Blood Donation Center on Jan. 30, 2025. Pictured (from left), Regional CEO Jennifer Graham; Regional Donor Service Executive Helen Munizza; platelet donor Jeff Rowlands; Fixed Site Collections Manager Katrell Patterson; Northeast Division Fixed Site Director Andree Baylor-Lloyd; Philadelphia Chapter Board of Directors Tine Hansen-Turton; PA Senator Frank Farry. Photo by Tatiana Madise / American Red Cross

    The American Red Cross celebrated the grand opening of its new Langhorne Blood Donation Center with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Jan. 30th. The Red Cross began collecting blood and platelet donations on Dec. 5, 2024. The new center is located at 100 N. Bucks Town Drive in Suite 204 in Langhorne.

    The site is one of four new blood donation centers the Red Cross has opened in Southeastern Pennsylvania, plus another one less than mile from the Pennsylvania state line in Wilmington, Delaware.

    “By opening this, and other locations like it, we’re able to collect more blood products to supply to hospitals all over the Greater Philadelphia region,” said Jennifer Graham, CEO, Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania.

    While mobile blood drives will continue to operate at businesses, schools, churches and other locations throughout the region, some donors may find it easier to fit a blood donation into their busy schedules at convenient, fixed locations with consistent hours.

    Donation centers are the only places the Red Cross collects platelets – tiny cells in your blood that form clots and stop bleeding. With a shelf life of only five days, platelets are in constant demand to treat patients with cancer and others facing life-threatening illnesses and injuries.

    Platelet donor Jeff Rowlands joined Red Cross and community officials to cut the ribbon. He was the very first platelet donor on the schedule when the center opened on Dec. 5th.

    Jeff first donated blood in high school and picked up again later when his younger brother battled a rare blood disorder and required transfusions.

    “He passed in 2021 after complications. I continue to give in his honor,” he shared.

    Jeff went to our Blood Donation Center in Princeton near his place of work at the time to make a Power Red blood donation during his lunch break. One day, a member of our collections team asked him to consider giving platelets.

    “After learning about it, I went ahead and have been donating ever since,” he said. “Yes, giving platelets is a little bit of a time commitment, but it is so rewarding knowing the impact it has for others in need.

    The Langhorne Blood Donation Center is open Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 11:45 a.m.-8 p.m., Thursdays 10:15 a.m.-6:30 p.m. and Saturdays 7:15 a.m.-3:30 p.m. To schedule an appointment to donate, visit RedCrossBlood.org, use the Red Cross Blood Donor App or call 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767).

  • High school Red Crosser shares first blood donation experience

    By Kai Kwong

    Kai Kwong with Fred Cross at WMMR’s 2024 “I Bleed For Preston & Steve” blood drive in Oaks. Photo by Jenny Farley / American Red Cross

    My name is Kai. I’m a high school student and I recently donated blood for the first time at my school Student Senate’s annual fall blood drive for the American Red Cross.

    I’ve wanted to donate blood for a long time, especially after my mom started volunteering for the Red Cross, and even more so after I started to volunteer. I’ve been nervous to donate because I have hated needles and any other procedure where I needed to get poked since I was really young. I was worried about whether donating would hurt.

    Something that helped motivate me to donate blood was that I knew how much good it would do for people who need it, especially because I have seen and heard about it from volunteering for the Red Cross. A single blood donation can help save more than one life.

    The process that I went through is probably not what most people will go through, since mine was through my school and not at a regular blood drive or donation center.

    On the day that I donated, I went from my math class down to the gymnasium where the drive was being held. I checked in with the intake people and moved over to a waiting area before I talked to the phlebotomist for the health screening. Then, I was moved over to the area where the actual donations were happening.

    During the health screening process, I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to donate. Last year in my junior year, I tried to donate but I was told I couldn’t because my pulse was too high. This time, when I was told that my health was good enough, I was really glad that I would be able to donate.

    When it was time to actually donate, the kindness of the phlebotomist was what helped me most. Even though I am afraid of needles, it was a very easy process because he told me what was happening.

    Throughout the whole thing, from when they prepped my arm to when I was going to the after-donation area, I was never in pain – even the insertion of the needle only felt like a small prick, and I felt at-ease the whole time.

    I would recommend that anyone donate blood. It’s very important, and it doesn’t hurt nearly as bad as you’d think it would. I am glad that I was able to donate blood, and I can’t wait until I can donate again, hopefully at my school’s spring blood drive.

  • National Blood Donor Month: Janette Olson makes her first Power Red donation

    By Jenny Farley

    Jannette Olson makes her first Power Red donation on Dec. 5th at the opening day of the new Red Cross Blood Donation Center in Langhorne. Photo by Jenny Farley / American Red Cross

    Jannette Olson decided to move to Pennsylvania from New Hampshire to be closer to her kids and their families. One of the first things she did as a new resident is find a place to donate blood, something she did frequently before the big move.

    “I always donated locally there with a major trauma center,” she said.

    Jannette discovered the new Red Cross Blood Donation Center in Langhorne and made her first Power Red donation on the site’s opening day.

    “I saw that there was a new center and it was close to my house so I figured I’d come in.”

    Jannette has O negative blood, which makes her a universal donor. O negative blood is what emergency room personnel reach for when there’s no time to determine a patient’s blood type.

    During her Power Red donation, Jannette gave a concentrated dose of red blood cells during a single donation. The red blood cells were separated out from the other blood components and the plasma and platelets were safely returned to her. Power Reds can be donated every 112 days.

    Donors at the new center in Langhorne can make Power Red donations as well as whole blood, plasma and platelets.

    “It’s great. People are very helpful and nice,” Jannette said.

    She appreciated that phlebotomists explained everything about how a Power Red donation worked, and she felt the energy of the center’s opening day.

    “Everybody’s pretty excited to be here.”

    If you are thinking about donating blood but haven’t done it yet, Jannette has some advice.

    “Everybody should do it. It’s easy. It doesn’t take too much time and it’s the right thing to do.”

    Make an appointment to donate blood by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, using the Red Cross donor app or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS. That’s 1-800-733-2767.

  • National Blood Donor Month: Gary LaSasso is part of a passionate platelet donor community

    By Jenny Farley

    Platelet donor Gary LaSasso with Red Cross phlebotomist Jamiee Saunders. Photo by Jenny Farley / American Red Cross

    When Gary LaSasso’s young cousin was diagnosed with Leukemia four years ago, Gary wanted to help in any way he could.

    “I knew that he was going to be in need of constant platelets during his treatments and I thought I would do my part to help refill the platelet population – replenish the platelets.”

    Knowing his cousin needed platelets to be able to undergo chemotherapy to treat his Leukemia led Gary to begin an odyssey of giving. For the past four years, he has donated platelets 18 times a year.

    Initially, Gary thought he was going to donate once a month. An encounter with another donor changed his mind.

    “I sat down in the canteen after one of my donations and another donor thanked me for my donation. I thought it was kind of strange, why is a donor thanking a donor?”

    Gary asked the donor – why? Her answer stuck with him.

    She said, “We just moved from Chicago. Our son is undergoing clinical trials at CHOP in Philadelphia and if he doesn’t get platelets every week he’s going to die. It’s people like you who donate that save his life. So, at that point I was like I can’t give once a month. I have to give more.”

    Platelets are needed by someone in the U.S. every 15 seconds. They are tiny cells that help blood to clot, which stops bleeding. Nearly half of all donated platelets go to cancer patients, but blood products are also needed for accident and burn victims, people with sickle cell disease, or those who have undergone heart surgery.

    To understand Gary’s commitment to giving, it takes two to three hours to make a platelet donation. But Gary didn’t stop there. He actively recruits other donors.

    “My 18 is one thing but if I can get two or three other people to give 10 times, that’s many more than I’m giving, so I like to use social media to spread the word and hopefully get more people.”

    Gary works in information technology (IT) for a biomedical company called Amicus Therapeutics. The company hosts blood drives at the office and allows employees to take three volunteer days a year, which gives Gary time to donate.

    “Culturally at our company we give back. That’s part of who we are. We have a mission called healing beyond disease.”

    He said, “I’m not a scientist, so I’m not going to invent anything to cure anything.” What he feels he can do through his role in IT is to help people “communicate and collaborate more effectively and efficiently,” which he said helps him “give back” to the community.

    He also plans to keep donating platelets and hopes other people will follow his lead.

    “Do it once. Join the Facebook group of platelet donors of the Red Cross, and when you’re around a community and you understand the impact that you’re making, you won’t just do it once. You’ll give a lot more.”

    When you donate platelets, you can relax and stretch out in a comfy chair. Pass the time by watching TV or a movie, all while knowing you are saving lives.

    To make an appointment to donate blood or platelets, visit RedCrossBlood.org, use the Red Cross donor app or call 1-800-RED CROSS. That’s 1-800-733-2767.

  • National Blood Donor Month: Jim Hare is a lifetime volunteer

    By Jackie Faiman

    Red Cross graphic – National Blood Donor Month. Give blood!

    Sometimes one act of selflessness begets another. Or in the case of Jim Hare, a lifetime of volunteerism. Jim remembers being captivated, as a young boy, by the story of his grandfather, who served as an army medic in France during World War I. The tales of his heroism led Jim—who never met his grandfather—to pursue opportunities throughout his life.

    While in college, Jim taught woodworking to adults with intellectual disabilities. He also donated blood for the first time and learned that he had O-positive blood type, a universal donor. Throughout his college years, during which he received a degree in civil engineering and also got married, Jim continued to donate blood, sometimes as often as four times a year.

    Jim spent the first two decades of his career in a range of testing and inspection roles for construction and insurance companies. His blood donations continued apace, and then his volunteerism blossomed in another direction as his family grew. His second daughter, born with Down’s Syndrome, became involved with athletics as a youngster.

    As Jim tells it, “First it was swimming. We entered her into the Special Olympics. Then she started bowling with them, and a few years later, skiing, and then golf. All the while I led volunteering to coach all of these sports. At one point she was participating in four sports while I was coaching all four! I saw fellowship and companionship develop among participants.”

    Jim has continued faithfully to donate blood as often as he is able. When asked about his loyalty to the American Red Cross, he cites their commitment to helping in disaster situations and local communities throughout the country, as well as addressing the perennial need for blood in hospitals and blood banks. He notes that not everybody can donate blood, but that there are many ways to be of service. He says, “Just reach out and see what you can do.”

    For many years, Jim was in possession of his grandfather’s war mementos: cigarette lighters, helmets, swords, an army jacket. Eventually Jim donated them to the Snyder County Museum, where they sit on display, ready to inspire a new generation of visitors.

  • National Blood Donor Month: Anna Heleniak is committed to helping others

    By Jenny Farley

    Anna Heleniak gives blood at the new East Norriton Blood Donation Center with phlebotomist Peyton Harris. Photos by Jenny Farley / American Red Cross

    After watching her dad donate blood throughout her childhood, Anna Heleniak started donating blood years ago and has kept it up ever since.

    “I started as soon as I could, when I was 17. My high school did blood drives, and I just turned 35,” she said.

    Someone needs blood in the United States every two seconds. Anna likes knowing that her blood donations help save lives in her community and beyond.

    “I knew that there was always a need and it’s something that I can do that makes a difference.”

    The American Red Cross provides about 40% of America’s blood supply and operates about 500 drives across the country daily. Anna works in marketing for a pharmaceutical company that hosts blood drives a couple of times a year and she said making an impact in healthcare is really important to her.

    “The Red Cross has such a great reputation so to be able to support the organization and do it in, like a healthcare way, which is something I’m interested in, was important. And I figured if I have the blood and I’m eligible, why not?”

    Anna recently made her 38th blood donation and makes an effort to donate every 56 days, the amount of time that whole blood can be donated safely.

    She has donated blood on blood mobiles and at community centers, but she was especially excited to see the new blood donation center open in East Norriton on Halloween, because it has convenient hours and is close to her house.

    She was one of the first people to donate on opening day and had great things to say about the new fixed donation site, which is located in Northtowne Plaza at 2880 DeKalb Pike, near the intersection of Germantown Pike and DeKalb Pike.

    “It’s beautiful! It’s really nice. It’s bright. It looks like it has all the latest technology and resources so it’s a friendly and inviting place to walk in and give blood.”

    Anna enjoys using the Red Cross Blood Donor App to see where her donated blood ends up.

    “Sometimes it would go to local hospitals, but recently it’s been going further and further, which means we’re able to fulfill needs in communities that maybe don’t have as many blood donors. Last time it went to West Virginia, or Ohio, so it’s nice to know that you can track and see.”

    She said, “I helped someone who I didn’t even know needed help.”

    If you would like to make an appointment to donate blood, visit

    RedCrossBlood.org, use the Red Cross donor app or call 1-800-RED CROSS. That’s 1-800-733-2767.

  • Help prevent blood shortages in 2025 by giving blood or platelets now

    Donors have chance to win trip to Super Bowl LIX during National Blood Donor Month

    Red Cross graphic – Give blood. Win a trip to Super Bowl LIX

    The American Red Cross urges donors to make an appointment to give lifesaving blood or platelets in the new year to help keep the blood supply strong this winter. Type O negative blood donors and those giving platelets are especially urged to give now to keep critical blood products on the shelves for patients in need.

    The start of the new year is one of the most challenging times to collect blood products as the threat of severe winter weather builds and can often lead to widespread blood drive cancellations. Additionally, an active cold and flu season may prevent people from keeping donation appointments as they rest and recover from illness. During National Blood Donor Month, the Red Cross celebrates those who generously roll up a sleeve to help save lives and urges those who are feeling well to make and keep donation appointments to help the blood supply stay on track throughout the winter. 

    Don’t sit on the sidelines − kick off 2025 with a blood or platelet donation. To book a time to give, visit RedCrossBlood.org, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, or call 1-800-RED CROSS.

    For the sixth year, the Red Cross and the National Football League (NFL) are partnering in January for National Blood Donor Month to invite football fans and blood donors to join our lifesaving team and score big for patients in need. As a special thank-you to donors for helping address the need for blood during the critical post-holiday time, those who come to give Jan. 1-26, 2025, will be automatically entered for a chance to win an exciting Super Bowl LIX giveaway. The trip includes access to day-of in-stadium pre-game activities, tickets to the official Super Bowl Experience, round-trip airfare, three-night hotel accommodations (Feb. 7-10, 2025), plus a $1,000 gift card for expenses.For full details, visit RedCrossBlood.org/SuperBowl.

  • Ribbon cutting marks the grand opening of East Norriton Blood Donation Center

    By Alana Mauger

    Red Cross officials cut the ribbon for the new East Norriton Blood Donation Center on Dec. 19, 2024. Pictured (from left), Delaware Valley Chapter Executive Director Lynn Cohen; Delaware Valley Board of Directors John Susanin; Fixed Site Collections Manager Katrell Patterson; Collections Supervisor Nakiesha Townsend; Regional CEO Jennifer Graham; and Regional Donor Service Executive Helen Munizza. Photo by Tatiana Madise / American Red Cross

    Before ringing in the new year, the American Red Cross celebrated the grand opening of its new East Norriton Blood Donation Center with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Dec. 19, 2024. The Red Cross began collecting blood and platelet donations at the site on Halloween.

    The new facility is located inside Northtowne Plaza at the intersection of Germantown and DeKalb pikes, just across from Suburban Community Hospital, in the heart of Montgomery County. Once you’re at the shopping center, you can find it between Dollar General and America’s Best.

    The new facility is now one of two fixed blood donation sites in Montgomery County, joining our Horsham location, which opened in 2021.

    “These sites allow us to collect more blood products to supply to hospitals all over the Delaware Valley,” said Lynn Cohen, executive director of the Red Cross Delaware Valley Chapter, which serves Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties.

    While mobile blood drives will continue to operate at businesses, schools, churches and other locations throughout the region, some donors may find it easier to fit a blood donation into their busy schedules at convenient, fixed locations with consistent hours.

    “Unfortunately, work and other factors have impacted when and where people give blood, creating new challenges we must overcome,” Lynn shared.

    To meet the growing and changing needs for blood products, the East Norriton site is one of four new donation centers the Red Cross has opened in Southeastern Pennsylvania, plus another one less than a mile from the Pennsylvania state line in Wilmington, Delaware.

    Importantly, donation centers are where the Red Cross collects platelets – tiny cells in your blood that form clots and stop bleeding. With a shelf life of only five days, platelets are in constant demand to treat patients with cancer and others facing life-threatening illnesses and injuries.

    “When someone experiences an emergency, it’s the blood already on hospital shelves that helps save lives,” Lynn reminded those attending the ribbon cutting. “Patients and their families are counting on the generosity of volunteer blood donors to share their health.”

    The East Norriton Blood Donation Center is open Mondays 11:45 a.m.-8 p.m., Thursdays 10:15 a.m.-6:30 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays 7:15 a.m.-3:30 p.m. To schedule an appointment to donate, visit RedCrossBlood.org, use the Red Cross Blood Donor App or call 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767).

  • Media Rugby Football Club and VFW recognized for commitment to blood collection in Delco

    By Alana Mauger

    Red Cross Donor Services account manager Lisa Cullison presents certificates to Media Rugby Football Club (RFC) and VFW Post No. 3460 leaders (from left) Larry Elias, Media RFC trustee; Pat Flanagan, VFW general manager; and Jason Rode, Media FRC Board of Trustees chairman. Photo by Katerina Luchinina / American Red Cross. Visit our Flickr album for more photos.

    When the COVID-19 pandemic struck Pennsylvania and schools, government offices and non-essential businesses closed, nearly every blood drive was cancelled.  While blood collection was deemed an essential service for public health, the American Red Cross struggled to find places willing to open their doors to host blood drives.

    Media Rugby Football Club (Media RFC) was among the first of several organizations to step up. The club was already on the books to hold its semi-annual blood drive in March 2020 at Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post. No. 3460, which opened its doors since facilities at the Media Borough building were closed.

    “Because the Red Cross was struggling to book drives, they asked Media Rugby if we would be willing to host additional drives, every other month,” said Larry Elias, Media RFC trustee. “After discussions between the post and club leadership, we notified the Red Cross of our desire to host once-a-month drives as long as the need exists.”

    After things started opening back up, the organizations continued to hold monthly drives, and they’re still going strong today! You can give blood on the last Wednesday of every month with Media RFC at the VFW.

    “Due to the strong cooperation of between VFW Post 3460 and Media Rugby and the outstanding support of the tight-knit Delaware County community, the monthly drives continued to be a success,” said Elias. “The decision was made to continue the monthly drives, making a reliable schedule.”

    Last month, Red Cross Donor Services recognized the Media RFC and VFW Post No. 3460 for their commitment to blood collection in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Red Cross account manager Lisa Cullison presented certificates to leaders from both organizations during their monthly blood drive on Nov. 27th.

    “We’re grateful to the Media Rugby Football Club, VFW Post No. 3460 and organizations like them across Southeastern Pennsylvania that stepped up during the pandemic – and continue to step up – to host blood drives and help ensure patients have access to lifesaving blood,” said Annette Tucci-Jenkins, Red Cross Donor Services district manager. “There is no substitute for blood. Patients rely on generously donated blood every day for a variety of reasons, including trauma, cancer, surgery, sickle cell disease and more.”

    Since the Red Cross began keeping electronic records in 1998, the Media RFC hosted 68 blood drives and helped collect 2,261 units of blood, helping thousands of patients.

    “Both the VFW and Media Rugby Club are thankful to the Red Cross and our community for making these monthly events successful,” said Elias.

  • Inspired by her brother Logan, Ava Conley helps organize Peter Powerhouse Foundation blood drives to help others

    By Jenny Farley

    Ava Conley and her brother Logan Conley are shown in a photo taken by their mom Amy Conley. Submitted photo

    Logan Conley is 13 years old and throughout his young life he has already undergone more than 100 chemotherapy treatments to fight a brain tumor that cost him most of his sight. To be able to receive that treatment, he had to receive numerous blood transfusions, and that led to a family effort to make sure kids like Logan get the blood they need to survive and thrive.

    Amy Conley is Logan’s mom. She and her daughter Ava, who is a senior in high school, took over running the American Red Cross Peter Powerhouse Foundation blood drives, held 10 months out of the year, at the Towamencin Mennonite Church in Kulpsville, Pennsylvania.

    The Peter Powerhouse Foundation is a non-profit organization that helps improve the lives of kids fighting cancer by providing money to organizations that research or treat the disease.

    Ava became the new Blood Program Leader earlier this year, and despite a busy schedule that includes school and sports, she spends hours each month making sure the blood drives are a success.

    “It makes me so happy to know that drives make an impact on so many lives. I feel so blessed to live in such a tight knit community that understands the importance of blood donations and continues to support us,” Ava said.

    In a Facebook post describing Logan’s brain tumor years ago, Amy wrote, “Our world turned upside down the week after Christmas 2015.” Logan’s tumor, diagnosed at age 4, was discovered by an MRI that resulted in surgery in January 2016.

    “The slow growing optic glioma was found in Logan’s optic nerve, which doctors believe then grew into the optic pathway, resulting in vision loss, which Logan will deal with for a lifetime,” Amy said.

    After years of treatment, his tumor is now stable, and he has scans every six months to make sure things haven’t changed.

    Getting blood transfusions helped Logan, but getting blood depends on donors. Every two seconds someone in the United States needs blood, and the Red Cross provides about 40% of America’s supply.

    “Peter Powerhouse ran these incredible blood drives through the Red Cross for kids like Logan.” Amy said, “Logan and other cancer patients need that blood to receive their lifesaving treatment to fight their tumors, and it also made him feel so much better.”

    Amy said she could almost tell when Logan’s cell counts were low because he would look pale and be lethargic. “You just don’t feel good. The difference that it made once he would get that blood transfusion was remarkable.” After a transfusion, Logan’s demeanor would change and the counts would be high enough to allow him to undergo chemo.

    Ava Conley checks in blood donors at November’s Peter Powerhouse Foundation blood drive. Submitted photo

    Ava was 8 years old when she first witnessed what her brother had to go through. Her mom said that was hard on her when she was young and didn’t really understand what was happening. But as Ava got older, Amy said Ava saw “what a difference the blood made for Logan and became very interested.”

    Ava finds helping people like her brother by recruiting and encouraging others to donate blood “rewarding.”

    She said, “As someone who knows what it’s like to be impacted by childhood cancer, to know that the blood I’m raising is literally saving lives, making someone who is going through chemotherapy feel better, or allowing them to get treatment by raising their blood counts – that’s all I need to continue to host drives.”

    Today, Logan loves playing flag football, basketball and riding his bike around the neighborhood. Because he lost most of his sight at such a young age, he has developed skills and techniques that help him scan his environment with his remaining vision.

    “He does really well,” Amy said. Logan participates in “all the normal things that a 13-year-old would want to do.”

    Ava is making plans to go to college and plans to keep convincing more people to donate blood.

    “I’m happy that for each drive I did recruit a few new donors, but I would like to continue to increase that number.”

    The next Peter Powerhouse Foundation blood drive will be held at the Towamencin Mennonite Church on December 26th from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The address is 1980 Sumneytown Pike in Kulpsville, Pennsylvania. If you can’t get out to donate then, a drive is scheduled for January 15th at the same location from 2 p.m. – 7 p.m. Drives are hosted monthly except for April and June. Visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter sponsor code Peter Powerhouse to schedule an appointment at an upcoming blood drive.