According to the American Red Cross, the hardest time to collect blood is at the start of the new year. While we are almost two months into 2025, it is still the cold and flu season, which means it's more important now than ever for Hudson County locals to take their time to donate blood. Luckily, there are blood drives happening all across our community over the next few months. The Hoboken Girl has compiled a list of blood drives and locations to give blood in the local area. Keep reading for a list of blood drives in Hoboken, Jersey City, + beyond.

Types of Blood Donations

According to the American Red Cross, there are four types of blood donations — all of which are necessary to save lives.

Whole Blood Donation: This kind of donation is the most common type of donation and consists of collecting a full pint of blood — plasma, red cells, platelets, and all. This donation typically takes one hour to complete.

Power Red Donation + Double Red Blood Cell: Power red donations, which are also referred to as double red blood cell donations, involve safely giving two units of red blood cells instead of one, which is the usual amount collected during a regular red blood cell donation. During this process, which can take about one and a half hours, the cells become separated from the other components of the blood. The red cells collected from a power red donation are usually given to trauma patients, and newborns, and used in emergency transfusions.

Read More: A List of Hoboken + Jersey City Non-Profits to Donate to Year-Round

Platelet Donation: In a platelet donation, only the platelets are taken from the blood. This process can take anywhere from two and a half hours to three hours. "A single donation of platelets can yield several transfusable units, whereas it takes about five whole blood donations to make up a single transfusable unit of platelets," according to the American Red Cross.

Plasma Donation: This kind of donation involves donating just the plasma, which is separated from the other blood components during the process. Plasma donations take about an hour and 15 minutes and are used during trauma situations to help stop a patient from bleeding.

Blood Drives in Hudson County

March

Stevens Institute of Technology | 1 Castle Point Terrace, Hoboken

March 14th | 12PM - 5PM

This blood drive takes place on March 14th at the University Center Complex at Stevens Institute of Technology. This drive will run from 12PM to 5PM. The American Red Cross will collect both whole blood and power red. See here to schedule an appointment.

Catholic War Veterans Post 1612 | 18 West 23rd Street, Bayonne

March 22nd | 8AM - 2PM

The American Red Cross will collect whole blood and power red donations at the Catholic War Veterans Post 1612 in Bayonne on March 22nd. This drive will occur from 8AM to 2PM. To schedule an appointment to donate, see this link.

Union City High School | 2500 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Union City

March 26th | 7AM - 4PM

Union City High School on JFK Boulevard will host an American Red Cross Blood Drive on March 26th. The drive will collect both whole blood and power red donations from 7AM to 4PM. To learn more and to schedule an appointment, click here.

Hoboken Public Library | 500 Park Avenue Hoboken

March 31st | 12PM - 6PM

The New York Blood Center will host a blood drive in the meeting room of the Hoboken Public Library on March 31st. The drive will collect whole blood and double red cells and take place from 12PM to 6PM. Time slots are available every 15 minutes. To schedule an appointment, see this link.

May