Garnet Health, New York Blood Center Host Jan. 28 Middletown Blood Drive

Garnet Health Medical Center and the New York Blood Center are teaming up to stage a community blood drive in Middletown on Wednesday, Jan. 28, aiming to ease seasonal shortages that strain local hospitals. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the conference rooms at Garnet Health’s Middletown campus, 707 E. Main St.

The drive is organized by Garnet Health’s Occupational Health and Wellness Department in partnership with the New York Blood Center. Organizers emphasized that winter months typically see drops in donation levels, increasing the need for community donors to support routine surgeries, emergency care and transfusion-dependent patients. Donors may walk in or schedule appointments; the hospital’s release noted that scheduling instructions and New York Blood Center contact information are available through Garnet Health’s online resources.

For local residents, the Middletown site offers convenient hours that accommodate lunch breaks and after-work visits, making a donation an accessible way to support nearby patients and medical teams. Blood supplies collected through regional drives often stay within the same health system or county, so donations at Garnet Health help ensure Orange County hospitals have the blood types needed for trauma care, obstetrics and scheduled procedures.

The event reflects a broader push by health systems and blood centers to stabilize inventories during traditionally slow periods for donations. Partnerships between hospitals and the New York Blood Center enable streamlined collection logistics and scheduling, which organizers say increases donor turnout and helps match supply with clinical demand.

Donors are asked to bring identification and to follow standard preparatory guidance such as staying hydrated and eating a healthy meal before donating. The drive’s 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. window provides flexibility for donors who work typical business hours or need to stop by between errands. Walk-ins are welcome, though scheduling an appointment can reduce wait times.

Middletown’s central location on East Main Street makes the conference rooms at Garnet Health an accessible stop for town residents and commuters from neighboring parts of Orange County. Local employers, civic groups and individuals can use events like this to build civic resilience by maintaining steady blood supplies through the winter.

For readers interested in donating, Garnet Health posts details and scheduling information on its website at garnethealth.org, and appointments can be arranged through the New York Blood Center’s donor channels. Sustained community participation in drives such as this one directly supports local patient care and keeps operating rooms and emergency departments ready for whatever comes next.