Oradell, NJ (May 2009) – A new program that offers elementary and middle school students the chance to organize blood drives is boosting the area’s blood supply while it adds new books to school libraries and educational programs.

KidzKare, created by Community Blood Services to help increase the critically low blood supply, offers students the opportunity to actively participate in a valuable community service as they learn about the importance of blood donations. With the help of educational posters and an interactive board game, blood center staff teach students about the blood collection process, the importance of donating regularly when they can (at age 17, or 16 with parental consent), and the need to maintain a diverse and ample blood supply.

At the same time, Community Blood Services donates one book for every lifesaving blood unit collected to help patients in community hospitals. Each book will be dedicated to the participating school’s library and can be personalized with a special message from the blood donor.

“This is a great opportunity to teach children about the importance of blood donation and how donating blood can help save lives. By educating and engaging kids in the process at a young age we are working toward expanding the community of future blood donors, while also enabling students to experience first-hand the benefits of giving back to the community,” said Dr. Dennis Todd, PhD, president and CEO of Community Blood Services.

Since the program started in January 2008, more than 25 schools have participated, and some have scheduled more than one drive, including Roosevelt School in Ridgefield Park, Hawes School in Ridgewood, Slocum Skewes School in Ridgefield Park, Paterson Public School 12, and Ridge Ranch and Parkway schools in Paramus. To date more than 500 books have been donated to area schools.

Already studies show that KidzKare has significantly increased donor recruitment rates for adults between the ages of 35 and 54 – a demographic that experts regard as critical to avoiding severe blood shortages in the near future.

Under the direction of Community Blood Services, students like Scooter Lingle of Ridgefield Park join with a teacher or parent to help coordinate the community blood drive by distributing posters and fliers to promote the event, encouraging school staff, parents, relatives and neighbors to donate blood, and helping on-site during the blood drive.

A student at Roosevelt School in Ridgefield Park, Scooter, himself a blood recipient, serves as a KidzKare ambassador, promoting the program and the importance of donating blood for Community Blood Services. Eleven-year-old Scooter and his brother Michael, 14, suffer from the blood disease hemolytic anemia, a lifelong condition that requires frequent blood transfusions. The first drive Scooter held earned more than 60 books for his school library.

“We are inspired and extremely grateful for the energy and the commitment of our young people to making a difference in their communities,” added Patricia Cascino, donor recruitment manager at Community Blood Services. “Our region, like many across the U.S., faces constant blood shortages and an ongoing need to enlist new blood donors and we hope the KidzKare program will have a long-term, positive impact on the blood supply.”

The KidzKare program has received an enthusiastic response from schools interested in participating and Community Blood Services is working hard to ensure their blood drives get scheduled before the end of the school year.

To learn more about KidzKare or set up your KidzKare blood drive for this year or the upcoming 2009-2010 school year, please contact Patricia Cascino at 201.705.1604.