Ninth Annual Jersey City 9/11 Memorial Blood Drive

Every September, people in the United States seek meaningful ways to observe and pay tribute to the lives lost, and first responders who united in service to provide aid and recovery following the devastating event of September 11, 2001. Suburban Propane is a proud, longtime partner of the American Red Cross and joined forces to host the ninth annual Jersey City Police & Fire 9/11 Memorial Blood Drive.

This year’s annual event occurred yesterday, Monday, September 11, 2023, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Jersey City, NJ. This waterfront location on the Hudson River overlooks the New York City skyline and Freedom Tower, which now stands in the place of the former Twin Towers. The picturesque and solemn location allows attendees and donors to reflect, and honor the numerous people involved.

“Participating in this annual event alongside Jersey City’s first responders and our partners at the American Red Cross is an honor and a privilege,” said Nandini Sankara, Spokesperson at Suburban Propane and board member of the Northern New Jersey Chapter of the American Red Cross. “We will never forget those who were lost in the 9/11 attacks, and encouraging others to give the gift of lifesaving blood helps us to honor their memory in an incredibly meaningful way.”

Suburban Propane’s President and CEO, Michael Stivala joined the event and donated to the effort. Mr. Stivala is a dedicated member of the New Jersey Regional Council within the NJ Region of the Red Cross. Plus, Eric LeGrand stopped by and leveraged his platform to raise awareness about the critical need for more blood donors. A total of 106 pints of blood were donated during this year’s memorial drive. A single pint of blood can save up to 3 lives.

Additionally, employees from the Company generously donated their time as volunteers assisting donors at the blood drive. This initiative is part of Suburban Propane’s SuburbanCares® platform which is dedicated to supporting community efforts across the company’s footprint in the United States. Suburban Propane is honored to host this annual blood drive in observance of this solemn anniversary and encourages people to donate lifesaving blood throughout the year, not just today.

How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org , or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients.

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass^® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, or before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.

All individuals who donated blood at the event were given a commemorative t-shirt and a Red Cross first aid kit, generously provided by Suburban Propane, a dedicated national supporter of American Red Cross Blood Services.

Featured Photo 1 Caption: (L-R) Spokesperson Suburban Propane, Nandini Sankara, Wallace Brixner, Jennifer Koch, Michelle Karpilovsky, Suburban Propane President and CEO, Michael Stivala, Carolyn Camp, Jodi Lozauskas, Megan Mlynarski and Doug Zayat
(not pictured Angela Geslicki).

Featured Photo 2 Caption: Suburban Propane President and CEO, Michael Stivala donating blood.

Featured Photo 3 Caption: (L-R) CEO of the American Red Cross New Jersey Region, Rosie Taravella; Suburban Propane President and CEO, Michael Stivala; Advocate, Eric Le Grand.