1,300 donors join in Mega Blood Drive in Mahwah
August 24, 2014, 6:18 PM Last updated: Sunday, August 24, 2014, 7:44 PM
By DEENA YELLIN
The Record
AMY NEWMAN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Jenice Chapero, 19 of Cary N.C., a member of the World Mission Society Church of God, watching while Sheri Kaplan, a phlebotomist, begins to take her blood Sunday during a "Mega Blood Drive" at the Bergen County Law and Public Safety Institute in Mahwah. More than 1,300 people donated blood.
MAHWAH — Eyes squeezed tight, faces winced and skin turned white at the prick of a needle. But Christian Andujar of Connecticut remained unruffled: As he lay back on a stretcher, he stared straight at the maroon-colored liquid that oozed out of his arm and flowed into four vials.
He was one of about 1,300 blood donors at the Mega Blood Drive held Sunday at the Bergen County Law and Public Safety Institute, which was sponsored by the World Mission Society Church of God.
Blood supplies typically decrease to their lowest levels during the summer, when people are on vacation. But this year, the shortage in New Jersey is more serious, with a 15 percent drop statewide from last year, said Jerry Antoine, director of donor recruitment at the Blood Center of New Jersey in East Orange. “Our department has seen a 20 percent drop from last year. We need 110 pints of blood daily to keep up with the demand. The whole state is suffering.”
Donors, most of whom came from various World Mission Society churches on the East Coast, wore their trademark fluorescent yellow shirts, and cheered and clapped their way through the drive, turning what might have been a somber event into a party-like atmosphere.
The eight-hour Mega Drive also had a barbecue, dancers and band performances as well as speakers, like County Executive Kathleen Donovan, who praised the group for helping New Jersey at a time when blood banks are in critical need.
As she sat in the waiting area, first-time donor Vanessa Sanchez, 31, of Bellville, admitted she was nervous. Then she remembered why she was there. “This is an amazing opportunity,” she remarked, fingering a oatmeal bar, one of the day’s many freebies. “I can save a life.”
Trini Infante of Connecticut lay flat on her back as she held her friend’s hand and grinned at the phlebotomist poking the vein on her arm. A moment later, she shrugged. “I felt a pinch and that was it,” Infante said.
One of the fastest growing churches in the world, with more than 2,200 branches in more than 175 countries, the World Mission Society has 2.2 million members worldwide. Humanitarian work — relief efforts during Superstorm Sandy, environmental cleanups and blood drives — are part of its mission. “We cannot only worship, we must also show love to our neighbors and society,” explained the group’s East Coast church pastor, Daniel Lee.
The church conducts several blood drives annually but this one marked the largest in its history, said Saira Ahmed, a church spokeswoman. “This is the first time we have brought together seven blood centers from around New Jersey. Our goal is to save 3,000 lives. Each pint collected can save three lives.”
The donations are also helping to alleviate bullying in North Jersey, Ahmed said. For each pint of blood collected, the blood centers will donate $5 to anti-bullying programs at the Bergen County Technical Schools.
John Casas, a church overseer, boasted that holding a drive to supply seven blood centers had never been done before by any group. “It’s like bringing McDonald’s, Wendy’s and Burger King together for a burger festival,” Casas said.
Blood bank officials lamented that the hardest part of their job is to get people to donate, and the church made that job eons easier.
The donations from Sunday will help all parts of New Jersey, he said. But the blood collected won’t last long — the supply will likely be used up within two weeks, Antoine said. If hospitals run out of blood, they either have to ration blood, delay procedures or ship in blood from other states.
“We need the people of New Jersey to realize that we need a constant supply of blood,” said Antoine. “We are asking everybody eligible in New Jersey who is old enough, if they are healthy to come and donate blood.”
He was one of about 1,300 blood donors at the Mega Blood Drive held Sunday at the Bergen County Law and Public Safety Institute, which was sponsored by the World Mission Society Church of God.
Blood supplies typically decrease to their lowest levels during the summer, when people are on vacation. But this year, the shortage in New Jersey is more serious, with a 15 percent drop statewide from last year, said Jerry Antoine, director of donor recruitment at the Blood Center of New Jersey in East Orange. “Our department has seen a 20 percent drop from last year. We need 110 pints of blood daily to keep up with the demand. The whole state is suffering.”
Donors, most of whom came from various World Mission Society churches on the East Coast, wore their trademark fluorescent yellow shirts, and cheered and clapped their way through the drive, turning what might have been a somber event into a party-like atmosphere.
The eight-hour Mega Drive also had a barbecue, dancers and band performances as well as speakers, like County Executive Kathleen Donovan, who praised the group for helping New Jersey at a time when blood banks are in critical need.
As she sat in the waiting area, first-time donor Vanessa Sanchez, 31, of Bellville, admitted she was nervous. Then she remembered why she was there. “This is an amazing opportunity,” she remarked, fingering a oatmeal bar, one of the day’s many freebies. “I can save a life.”
Trini Infante of Connecticut lay flat on her back as she held her friend’s hand and grinned at the phlebotomist poking the vein on her arm. A moment later, she shrugged. “I felt a pinch and that was it,” Infante said.
One of the fastest growing churches in the world, with more than 2,200 branches in more than 175 countries, the World Mission Society has 2.2 million members worldwide. Humanitarian work — relief efforts during Superstorm Sandy, environmental cleanups and blood drives — are part of its mission. “We cannot only worship, we must also show love to our neighbors and society,” explained the group’s East Coast church pastor, Daniel Lee.
The church conducts several blood drives annually but this one marked the largest in its history, said Saira Ahmed, a church spokeswoman. “This is the first time we have brought together seven blood centers from around New Jersey. Our goal is to save 3,000 lives. Each pint collected can save three lives.”
The donations are also helping to alleviate bullying in North Jersey, Ahmed said. For each pint of blood collected, the blood centers will donate $5 to anti-bullying programs at the Bergen County Technical Schools.
John Casas, a church overseer, boasted that holding a drive to supply seven blood centers had never been done before by any group. “It’s like bringing McDonald’s, Wendy’s and Burger King together for a burger festival,” Casas said.
Blood bank officials lamented that the hardest part of their job is to get people to donate, and the church made that job eons easier.
The donations from Sunday will help all parts of New Jersey, he said. But the blood collected won’t last long — the supply will likely be used up within two weeks, Antoine said. If hospitals run out of blood, they either have to ration blood, delay procedures or ship in blood from other states.
“We need the people of New Jersey to realize that we need a constant supply of blood,” said Antoine. “We are asking everybody eligible in New Jersey who is old enough, if they are healthy to come and donate blood.”
WMSCOG save the physical life by donating blood and the spiritial life also by preaching the Second Coming Christ (Christ Ahnsahnghong) and New Jerusalem, Heavenly Mother whom are Savior in this age.
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