Bishop Alfred Schlert rolled up his sleeve and gave the first pint of blood in this year’s diocesan blood drive, asking others to join him in putting their Catholic faith into action by donating blood.
The third annual St. Januarius Blood Drive began Sept. 19 and runs through Wednesday, Dec. 16. It’s sponsored by the Diocese of Allentown in partnership with Miller-Keystone Blood Center.
Those who donate this year will receive a special St. Januarius medal, or a prayer card or magnet if they prefer. All were blessed by the Bishop on Sept. 16 at the blood center’s Bethlehem headquarters.
Donating blood not only saves lives, but it is also an act of Christian charity.
“As followers of Christ, we are called to serve our neighbors with compassion and generosity,” said Bishop Schlert. “This blood drive offers a simple yet powerful way to live out that calling while helping save lives throughout our region.”
“Every time you donate blood, you have a positive impact on three lives,” said Rami Nemeh, the blood center’s president and CEO, referring to the number of patients who can receive help from one blood draw.
The program continues to gain momentum. During last year’s St. Januarius Blood Drive, parishioners, students, clergy, and community members from 63 parishes and schools donated 821 units of blood, a 40% increase over the previous year of the drive. This year, Bishop Schlert and Nemeh said, the goal is to collect 1,000 pints.
Participants can double their impact by donating blood in the early days of this year’s program and then returning eight weeks later to safely donate again.
St. Januarius was a bishop martyred in the early fourth century and is venerated as the Patron Saint of Blood Donation. A relic of his blood, kept in Naples, Italy, is traditionally observed to liquefy on certain days each year, including his feast day, Sept. 19, and Dec. 16.
To receive a medal or other memento blessed by the Bishop, give your parish or school’s sponsor code when you donate. If you don’t know the code, the blood center will look it up for you.
How to Participate
Donations may be made at any Miller-Keystone donor center:
- Bethlehem – 1465 Valley Center Parkway
- Allentown (Cedar Crest) – 1255 S. Cedar Crest Blvd., Suite 1300
- Allentown (Hamilton) – Five City Center, 740 Hamilton St., Suite 120
- Easton – 3765 Nicholas St., Suite B
- Reading – 2745A Leiscz’s Bridge Road (for GPS, use 1047 Old Bernville Road)
- Pittston – 400 Route 315, Suite E
Make your appointment to give at GIVEaPINT.org, or by calling 800-B-A-DONOR (223-6667) ext. 2, or through the Miller-Keystone app, available from Google Play and the Apple App Store. Walk-in donors are welcome as time permits.
Photos by Ed Koskey.
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