Our practice is involved in a variety of community service projects including blood drives, collecting items for the needy, and also for the soldiers serving abroad. We get asked to be involved in many projects and patients also ask how they can get involved. Donating blood for our upcoming blood drive is a great way to help others without spending any money in tough economic times. Only 5 % of people that are eligible to donate blood actually do. Anyone over 17 that is healthy may donate. The average person has 10-12 pints of blood and only one is donated. There are shortages for blood primarily in the winter and summer months and around the holidays, especially when there is bad weather like snow storms. With a one-pint donation, it can help save up to three people. The blood is divided into three parts; plasma, platelets and red blood cells. Eligible persons may donate around every 60 days. We will be having a blood drive in cooperation with the Blood Bank of Central Jersey on Tuesday, April 13th from 2:00pm – 7:00pm at our Howell office. For those that are interested in donating blood, please contact our office at (732) 905-1110 to schedule a time.
For those that are more needle shy and fashion friendly, Tom’s shoes may be the answer. Tom’s shoes is a shoe company that was started to help children that live in poverty get a pair of shoes. Children that live in poverty walk barefoot wherever they need to go, often walking on uneven and rough terrain. This leaves them susceptible to getting cuts and scrapes to the bottom of their feet. Parasites living in the soil can then work there way into the openings in the feet making the children sick and causing infections which can lead to potential amputations. Wearing shoes helps protect your feet from cuts and scrapes and decrease your risk of infection. When you purchase a pair of shoes from Toms shoes, a pair of shoes are donated to a child living in impoverished conditions. To learn more or purchase a new pair of shoes, please visit http://www.tomsshoes.com.
Regardless of whether you donate your time, blood or money, it is important to just get involved.
By Dr. Alison DeWaters
