In Morristown, 13 give rare gift during season of giving: blood

By Jake Remaly

Daily Record

December 28, 2009

MORRISTOWN — While Rich Herbert's wife and kids were at a movie Sunday morning, the town resident was reclining in the Morristown Ambulance Squad's garage, donating blood.

Herbert, a mechanical engineer who said he has "good veins," has blood type O-positive, which can be used by many people.

"I feel like I should do it a lot," Herbert said. "If I needed the blood, I would want somebody to be there for me."

From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, New Jersey Blood Services, a division of the New York Blood Center, ran a blood drive in the ambulance squad's Early Street garage. Magdalena Mirea, a registered nurse for New Jersey Blood Services overseeing the blood drive, said the holiday season is "the most difficult time of year to collect blood."

She said that's because high schools, colleges and companies that host blood drives mostly are on vacation. Other people are busy, she said. In total, 13 people each donated a pint of blood, she said.

The ambulance squad hosted the blood drive as part of its holiday fundraising and promotional campaign, said Karen Johansen, president of the Morristown Ambulance Squad.

Randolph resident Bob Tullman donated on Sunday. He said he often donates when his employer, Novartis, hosts blood drives at its East Hanover campus. "It's nothing," he said of donating. "You get a nice break. You can read. . . . You hardly feel it (the needle) going in."

He and the other donors on Sunday received vouchers saying they'll receive two tickets in the mail to a New Jersey Nets basketball game for donating.

Tullman said he didn't even know that was part of the deal.