Bernards Chamber To Hold Blood Drive in Recognition of Boston Tragedy

The Bernards Township Regional Chamber of Commerce has chosen to respond to the tragedy of this week's Boston Marathon bombings by putting together two upcoming blood drives and asking for community support.

"Everyone watched in horror as the events unfolded in Boston, evil once again was brought to our streets," said Al LiCata, executive director of the regional Bernards chamber. "The best way for us to take act is to come together for the common good and make a positive difference."

LiCata said the chamber partnered with Covenant Chapel of Basking Ridge and the Stirling Elks Lodge No. 2392, in conjunction with the Blood Center of New Jersey, to put together two blood drives and ask the community to donate.

The drives are scheduled to take place from noon to 6 p.m. on Monday, April 29 at The Covenant Chapel at 127 West Oak St. in Basking Ridge; and from 1 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 1, at the Stirling Elks Lodge at 1138 Valley Road in the Stirling section of Long Hill Township.

Registration will take place on site as donors arrive, LiCata said. Normal donation times range from 10 to 25 minutes total, with the norm being 10 to 15 minutes, he said.

"When Al LiCata called our office and wanted to put together two blood drives, our entire team got together to make this possible, considering everything was in place in just two days. We are so very appreciative to join the Chamber and their partners and ask for community support at this time of need,” said M. Bridget Schindo of The Blood Center of New Jersey.

“The Chamber has always stepped up to assist in emergency situations and this is another outreach we so fully support and ask everyone to come and make a donation and be a part of making a positive difference,” said Barbara Long, President of the chamber.

“When we got a call asking to partner with the Bernards Township Regional Chamber of Commerce to help with blood collections in light of what happened in Boston, our board fully supported this and we ask all our members and town residents to come out and donate,” said Stirling Elks President Kelly Mazzocchi.

“The magnitude of the event in Boston has galvinzed our resolve to do something that makes a difference and provide a way for everyone to play an important part by donating," LiCata said.

"With such a short period of time from setting this up till the blood drives take place, we are really asking for our combine communities, and those that hear about these drives, to come together and join us in large numbers to support these drives and make donations. The blood is truly needed and one pint of blood can save up to three lives," he said.

For more information, or to set up a specific time to donate blood during the drives, call 908-339-5937.