New Forest Hills Blood Center Expands Donation Access
By MOHAMED FARGHALY
mfarghaly@queensledger.com
New York Blood Center (NYBC) celebrated the grand opening of its first permanent Queens donor center on December 10, expanding access to blood donations in the borough and addressing ongoing shortages in the region. The ceremony, held at 107-10 Queens Blvd, included Deputy Queens Borough President Ebony Young, New York City Council Member Lynn Schulman, Dr. Toni Eyssallenne of the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and other community partners.
“Queens is known as the World’s Borough for a reason – its diversity is unmatched,” said Jeannie Mascolino, Vice President, Divisional Blood Operations at New York Blood Center. “That diversity is essential to a strong blood supply, especially for patients who need closely matched blood, such as those with sickle cell disease or thalassemia. We’re thrilled to open our first donor center in Queens and grateful to the local leaders who helped make this day possible.”
The Queens donor center marks NYBC’s sixth facility in New York City and the first in the borough. It comes as part of a broader effort to make blood donation more convenient and community-centered. “The Queens donor Center is our sixth in New York City, so we’re super excited to be in Queens. Our opening there really was a direct response to community demand for more accessible donation options in the borough,” said Jeanne D’Agostino, NYBC’s manager of public relations. “We’re stoked to be there, and we’re looking ahead to the beginning of 2026 when we’ll open a donor Center in the Bronx.”
The facility features 10 donation beds, private medical screening rooms, and a modern cafe area designed to create a welcoming environment for donors. “Our goal would be to get you in and out in, you know, 40 minutes to an hour. So we try to make it really easy peasy,” D’Agostino said. Donors can relax in the cafe area post-donation, complete with Wi-Fi and snacks, before resuming their day. The center operates five days a week, including one weekend day, aiming to fit into the schedules of working residents and students alike.
NYBC said the timing of the center’s opening is critical. Blood supplies across the region are currently at about half of what is needed, with critical types like O positive and O negative down to a one-day supply. The week of Thanksgiving saw donations drop roughly 20%, leaving the region about 1,500 units short. “Blood shortages like this directly impact hospitals’ ability to perform surgeries, treat trauma patients, [and] take care of those with chronic illnesses like cancer,” D’Agostino said. She stressed the importance of a diverse donor base to meet the needs of patients with specific blood-related conditions such as thalassemia and sickle cell disease.
Blood donors can give every 56 days, while platelet donors can donate twice per month. Recent updates to FDA guidelines have expanded eligibility, allowing more people to contribute. NYBC also encourages financial support through its End of Year Campaign, which funds lifesaving research, mobile blood drives, and upgrades to donor centers.
Founded in 1964, NYBC provides 500,000 blood products annually to more than 150 hospitals in the tri-state area and serves as a primary blood supplier in 17 states. The organization also operates the Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, dedicated to research on bloodborne and blood-related diseases, and provides cellular therapies and specialty pharmacy services to hospitals and research organizations nationwide.
“I’m so glad to see New York Blood Center has opened a new permanent Queens Donor Center in Forest Hills,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “We’ve happily hosted NYBC at Queens Borough Hall in the past, and now they have a permanent location in our borough for all to use. I encourage everyone to pay them a visit and give the gift of life this holiday season.”
For more information on donation eligibility or to schedule an appointment, visit nybc.org or call 800-933-2566.
