July 27, 2023
ROBBINSVILLE, NJ (MERCER)—BAPS Charities, in collaboration with local hospitals and organizations, proudly announces the commencement of a blood donation drive at Swaminarayan Akshardham USA in Robbinsville, New Jersey. This extraordinary event will last for over ten weeks, making it one of the largest blood drives in the state. With an ambitious target of collecting no less than 6,000 pints of blood, the drive has the potential to impact and save up to 18,000 lives.
The blood drive welcomes all eligible donors and invites participation from the local Robbinsville community and those living across North America. Anticipating a substantial turnout, organizers expect thousands of donors to come from nearly every corner of the USA and Canada. The donated blood will be distributed to hospitals and organizations within the region. Notable partners supporting this noble cause include the Miller-Keystone Blood Center, New Jersey Blood Services, RWJBarnabas Health, Vitalant, and The American Red Cross, who have joined hands with BAPS Charities to ensure the sustainability and success of this life-saving initiative.
Robbinsville Mayor Dave Fried (@mayordavefried), along with Council President Deborah Blakely and Councilwoman Christine Ciaccio, inaugurated the blood drive, marking yet another significant chapter in Mayor Fried’s unwavering commitment to community service. Renowned for his impactful “Pay it Forward” initiative, which has raised over $450,000 for those in need, as well as his advocacy for barrier-free housing, Mayor Fried recognized the Swaminarayan Akshardham blood drive as a crucial opportunity to give back to the community. Expressing admiration for the Akshardham campus, Mayor Fried enthusiastically stated, “The scale of this operation is truly unique, and I’m excited to be a part of it. The selfless mission that BAPS has is an inspiration to all of us, and I’m glad that they chose Robbinsville.”
Looking back on the selfless service of BAPS volunteers during a previous blood drive hosted by Robbinsville Township, Mayor Fried shared, “We were having a difficult time with volunteers. We called up BAPS at 10:30 am and by 3 pm, we had to call back and say, ‘Okay, you need to stop sending volunteers’.