Temple helps meet need for blood for 30 years
Marlboro Jewish Center schedules annual drive 6-10 p.m. June 17
BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer

MARLBORO - This year marks a landmark anniversary for the Marlboro Jewish Center's annual blood drive.

The Marlboro Jewish Center/Congregation Ohev Shalom, School Road West, will hold its 30th annual blood drive 6-10 p.m. June 17. In order to donate blood, individuals must be over the age of 17 and have a minimum weight of 120 pounds. Advance registration is requested and may be made by calling Isabel Jacob at 732-536-4859.

Jacob, of Marlboro, has organized the twice-yearly blood drive since the fall of 1978. It all began when a fellow congregant spoke to her about an upcoming heart surgery he was scheduled to undergo. The man had concerns about the availability of blood, which inspired Jacob to organize a blood drive at the temple. The first blood drive brought in 75 people, Jacob recalled.

The blood drive was held once a year in the fall until 1991 when the decision was made to host a second blood drive in the spring. Jacob said the spring drive, usually held in May or June, was chosen in the hope of attracting more donors, since college students are likely to be home from school at that time.

Jacob said one unit of blood from an individual could save the lives of three people since the plasma and platelets in the donated blood can be divided as needed among patients.

The event at theMarlboro Jewish Center is held with the assistance of the Central Jersey Blood Center, Shrewsbury, which has provided all of the hospitals in Monmouth and Ocean counties with blood for 41 years. Dana Hanlon, account manager with Central Jersey Blood Center, said that during the last 30 years it is estimated the Marlboro Jewish Center's blood drive has accounted for 3,000 units of blood.

Jacobs compared humans to superheroes who can save lives by donating blood.

New Jersey is in a chronic blood shortage all year and has to import about 70,000 units of blood from the Midwest each year, Hanlon said.

"Only 3 percent of the eligible population donate blood," Hanlon said, noting it is estimated that 95 percent of people will need blood at some point in their lives.

The summer months tend to have a higher need for available blood, as accident rates can rise with more car accidents and boating accidents. Hanlon said it is important for area residents to donate at local blood drives in order to supply local hospitals. She said if an area resident donates blood in New York, that blood will not help residents ofMonmouth County.

Jacob said she does everything she can to get the word out about the Marlboro Jewish Center's blood drive. She places notices in the synagogue's newsletters and bulletins, posts fliers, sends reminder cards to previous donors and even hands out fliers through the temple's nursery school.

Two weeks before the blood drive she calls people who have donated in the past to remind them of the upcoming blood drive. The temple's rabbi reminds people that according to Jewish tradition, "if you save one life, it's like saving the world."

Jacob said the entire process of donating blood- registration, donation and relaxing afterward - takes about 45 minutes.

"It's a short amount of time for saving a life," Jacob said.

To celebrate the Marlboro Jewish Center's 30th anniversary of sponsoring blood drives, the Central Jersey Blood Center will provide T-shirts and travel coffee mugs to people who donate.