Howell Elks Holding Blood Drive Today

For those people looking to help others on a hot Thursday evening the Howell Elks Lodge #2515 will be holding a blood drive at their Ramtown location. 

Sharon DeToro said this is a regular occurrence for the lodge working in conjunction with New Jersey Blood Services. DeToro said the drives are typically held in January and July, "when the blood supply dips and donations become critical."

The lodge is located at 84 Ramtown Greenville Rd. which DeToro said is beneficial for the community support. "Having a drive in the heavily populated Ramtown section of Howell makes it easy for people to come by on their way home from work, running errands or picking up/dropping off the kids," she said. 

As part of the drive those donors who meet the weight and height requirements can take part in what is known as "double red cell donation." DeToro said, "Their donations can help two patients or give one patient two therapeutic doses of red cells."

Donors must be be at least 16-years-old, weigh at least 110 pounds and bring a signature or photo identification. The drive will be held from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Those who donate will also receive two tickets to CitiField to see the New York Mets in action. Those tickets will be sent in the mail following the drive.

Whatever the reason people give, DeToro said she is hopeful there will be community support for those in need. "Blood is urgently needed to help local patients," she said.