The Diocese of Allentown’s St. Januarius Blood Drive returns for a third year this fall, opening Sept. 19 on the Feast of St. Januarius and running through Dec. 16.
In a letter to the faithful, Bishop Alfred Schlert wrote that he was “pleased to invite the faithful throughout the Diocese of Allentown to participate in the St. Januarius Blood Drive in partnership with Miller-Keystone Blood Center, the only community blood center serving our region.”
Named for the patron saint of blood banks, the campaign asks Catholics across the Diocese to do something ordinary and quietly extraordinary: give blood. As the Bishop put it, the initiative “provides a meaningful opportunity to put our faith into action through the gift of blood donation.”
A growing effort
The response over two years has been substantial. Last year, parishioners, students, clergy, and community members donated 821 units of blood — a 40% increase over the first year — with 63 parishes and schools taking part.
“These remarkable results demonstrate the impact we can have when we unite behind a common mission,” Bishop Schlert wrote.
This year he is asking for more. “I ask every parish and school not only to participate once again, but to help us grow this effort even further,” he wrote, encouraging parishes to welcome new donors and to draw in young adults and families.
Why it matters now
The need is urgent. Many blood centers nationwide, including Miller-Keystone, are operating with only a one- to two-day supply. Miller-Keystone must collect roughly 350 donations every day to serve patients at regional hospitals — people undergoing cancer treatment, accident victims, surgical patients, and premature babies among them.
“Blood cannot be manufactured or replaced,” Bishop Schlert wrote. “It can only come from individuals willing to give of themselves for others.”
St. Januarius and the campaign dates
St. Januarius — San Gennaro in Italian — was a bishop martyred in the early fourth century and is venerated as the patron saint of blood banks. A relic of his blood, kept in Naples, Italy, is traditionally observed to liquefy on certain days each year. The campaign opens on his Sept. 19 feast day and closes Dec. 16, another of those days.
Donors who provide their parish’s sponsor code when they give will receive a St. Januarius medallion blessed by Bishop Schlert. Donors who already have a medallion, or who would simply prefer something else, may choose a St. Januarius prayer card or magnet instead.
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
You may donate at whichever center is most convenient — there is no requirement to use the one nearest your home.
Donors must be at least 16 years old, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds, and be feeling healthy. Parental consent is required for 16-year-old donors, and there is no upper age limit. Whole blood donors may give every eight weeks, so it is possible to donate more than once during the campaign.
Appointments can be made at GIVEaPINT.org, 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.
Before your appointment, be sure to keep hydrated and eat a hearty meal.
When you arrive, bring valid identification and give your parish’s sponsor code so your donation is credited to your parish. If you don’t already know your parish’s code, the receptionist can look it up for you — there is no need to locate it beforehand.
If your parish has its own blood drive scheduled during the campaign window, those donations count toward your parish’s total as well.
Donors are also encouraged to invite friends and family to give. A guest who provides your parish’s sponsor code has their donation counted toward your parish’s total, whether or not they belong to the parish themselves.
A simple way to live out the calling
“As followers of Christ, we are called to serve our neighbors with compassion and generosity,” Bishop Schlert wrote. “The St. Januarius Blood Drive offers a simple yet powerful way to live out that calling while helping save lives throughout our region.”
Bishop Schlert’s full letter, the St. Januarius Blood Drive flyer, and a list of Frequently asked questions may be accessed here: tinyurl.com/SJBloodDrive26.
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