Pictured Above: DSN Executive Director Sammy Sitt donating blood at the DSN blood drive.

Donating blood is one of the best ways that we as human beings can help others survive in the most complicated and difficult of times. It is an extremely selfless act that not many people tend to partake in today throughout the world. According to the Central Jersey Blood Center, the organization is facing a critical blood shortage and is issuing emergency calls throughout the state for eligible blood and platelet donors of all blood types to give now and save lives.

Lives in Ocean and Monmouth County, specifically, are currently at risk and on Sunday, July 3 our community was there to help and, in turn, save lives. 

The DSN blood drive was held at the DSN community center in Oakhurst NJ from 9 AM to 3 PM on July fourth weekend. The drive has been organized by New Jersey resident Millie Abadi for the past two years. 

“I have O negative blood so I was being contacted by both NY and NJ blood centers very often to donate,” explained Abadi when asked how she first got involved in the cause. “Once I saw how easy it was I thought it would be great to host a blood Drive.”

Abadi began hosting blood drives at the Safra Shul in New York City in 2010 which had a tremendous turnout. 

“Once I got married and moved to Deal, I helped organize blood drives at DSN,” offered Abadi. “This was our 5th blood drive since 2015 and we're excited with the turn out. People really like how easy it is to donate blood at a facility that's convenient for them and that they're familiar with.”

Participants who donated blood that day were given a $10 Rook Coffee gift card as well as a free oil change.

According to the results of the blood drive conducted by the Central Jersey Blood Center, 32 people were expected to come out to donate and all expectations were met. Because of the collected efforts of Millie Abadi, the DSN community center, and the community members who participated in the drive, 28 donations were made that day.

It is said that for every one donation of blood, there is a potential to save as many as three lives. That means that the DSN blood drive has potentially saved about 85 lives in the state of New Jersey. And saving a life is the biggest Hesed that any one person can ever do.

For more information on how to donate blood near you, please visit the New Jersey Blood Center’s website.

Shelly Greenstein - Forman

editor@sephardic.org

Shelly Forman is currently serving as editor-in-chief of Sephardic.Org. Shelly curates the content that comes through to Sephardic and makes sure that each and every article, video, and image on the site goes along with our amazing mission statement.