American Red Cross Donor Center

I’ve donated with the Red Cross 116 times. The FNBC staff is always pleasant and helpful, especially the volunteers. the entire process almost always goes smoothly from check in to cookies (It’s about the cookies)
just keep in mind that there’s a great deal of process and screening that goes on so you’re going to be a little while in the screening room. It’s the process, not the staff so don’t get upset with them.
P. S. I miss the Nutter Butters.

One four star service one two star service so far. I went in to donate today and they said that my blood pressure was ¹²⁰⁄₁₀₀ so I couldn’t donate. If my blood pressure was 120/​100, I wouldn’t be standing. I went home and took it with my digital cuff, got the normal ¹⁴⁵⁄₉₅ (A bit high but normal). I think they either need new cuffs or new reading techniques.
Previous review: This place is an operations management nightmare. With only one other donor in the clinic when I walked in, it took no less than an hour and a half to donate a unit of whole blood. That was 10 minutes on the chair with a needle in my arm, 10 minutes in recovery, and an hour and ten minutes waiting through their screening process. It seemed the person had to leave to «go get something» after every few questions, as if the paperwork was stored on the other end of the building and they couldn’t carry more than one sheet of paper at a time. There is no sense of urgency among the staff there. It’s like they’re all stoned and on autopilot.

Everyone is really nice and friendly there. They make sure you feel well before they let you go.

I have donated several gallons of blood over the years, mostly in Newark. I think this place is getting worse all the time. I have had several times where I make an appointment and they are not ready. I understand if it is in the middle of the day for them to be a few mins late but not 40 mins. What is the point of making an appointment. Today I was the first appointment and they did not even open the door at 11:30. I do not get it. I have to be on time for work and ready to go when School starts why do they have to be ready. No person at the desk. They were not ready. I said I am not going to wait because I knew they were going to take longer then an hour. I think this should be able to be done in an hour.. The people to draw the blood are ok but I think American Red Cross is trying to cut too many corners and now things take so long. After you get in the chair that is when they make up the bucket with the bags. That was already done in the past. We are the ones giving. They are the ones taking. They should be showing us the service. After 20 years of donations I think I am ready to stop or go find another place to donate. I am tired of this!!!

I’ve donated blood with American Red Cross numerous times with no problem. Went into The Newark center today to make a difference but received the worst service ever by this lady, just because I am «too light but 5lbs». When I asked if they had a scale since I haven’t weighed myself in a while and probably heavier now, she said «nope, you told me 105 and that’s that, we cannot proceed with this donation right now.» Yet she tried to make me finish the donator survey even though we weren’t going through with it. Waste of my time and she had such bad attitude, like I had to beg her to take my blood.

This was my first time donating blood at this Red Cross location. I must say, the employees here lack good bedside manner. With the exception of the volunteers, the workers here were uniformly sullen and unfriendly.
Luckily, they were competent enough to stick me only once for the blood donation. But I really think that had more to do with my excellent veins than their overall competence. I was also left waiting for 45 minutes after my appointment time before I could sit through their screening and blood draw. The blood donation itself took less than 10 minutes, but I was there for 1 hour and 15 minutes, not including cookie time.
I will probably donate at a different location next time, unless I feel really motivated to give blood, like I did today.

I must admit, my main reason for donating is for the snacks, but it’s nice to know that the people drawing your blood have a good heart.
I’ve been switching between this one and the Red Cross on First St in San Jose, and I do love the hospitality of this place. Right when you walk in, they greet you, have you sign in, and read the informational pamphlet. It’s pretty routine if you go enough. There isn’t really much of a line, but you do have to wait for a phlebotomist (that’s who they are right?) to free up if all the recliners are taken.
When it’s your turn, they lead you to the room to make sure that you’re able to donate that day or not. Everyone that has drawn my blood here has always been a pleasure to talk to, professional, and very informational about anything you ask. Once it gets down to the business, they’re there with you pretty much the whole time. Checking twice on everything, making sure that you’re feeling alright, it’s like getting pampered, but you’re losing a pint of blood at the same time.
After all that is done, they have you stay in the quarantine area (I’m pretty sure that’s what they call it) for 15 mins before you leave and have all the snacks and juice you want! (Insert evil, but weak laugh here) The people that work in the quarantine area are volunteers, so they’re taking time out of their day, also not getting paid, to cater to your every need.
If you go on the right days, they have free stuff they give out to people that donate blood. Probably the coolest thing I got was a Red Cross sponsored shirt that said «I Bleed Red and Gold» and the guy that was working at the time let me take another one with me for my boyfriend, which was also pretty awesome. They do give out Girl Scout cookies when they are in season, and I mean a whole box.
I have never felt uncomfortable, waited too long, rushed, pressured, or irritated while being at this Donor Center. I’ll be back in a month or so to donate again!

The staff is great and helpful. They will do everything they can for you to make you fee comfortable.

I have been donating blood here for years. Except for once, it has always been a good experience. The one time that it wasn’t it was a phlebotomist that I was unfamiliar with. Just to be on the safe side, ask for one of the «regulars» there like Kulwinder, Wendi, Brenda, or Abel. I may be forgetting someone. Anyway, those phlebotomists are great, for sure. Entire staff is friendly. Donating blood is a good habit to get into. You can save so many lives.

I’ve given blood all over the country and by far I love this location BESTEST! I always make my appt online via
My first visit I was a bit weary at first: it’s in a strip mall, the front area looks tiny, the receptionist had no clue. But now I know, there is always plenty of parking, they move you through quickly, and the front desk is staffed by darling volunteers.
They love on you lots, especially when they know you give blood often. One time I had a newer phlebotomist but another one quickly realized they were a bit «off» in what they were doing so they took over with hardly an interruption in the process.
They have lots of fun Red Cross tidbits and information, super good snackies to recharge with, and always a volunteer to do my bidding :)

I had a great experience with this blood center. Everyone there was very friendly and made me feel at ease throughout the donation process. They even offered snacks to my boyfriend who was just there for moral support. ;) I will definitely return here in a few months.

My mom really wanted to donate blood, so her and I came here on a Saturday for some quality time together. She was pretty nervous since it was her first time, but all of the staff were extremely sweet and put her worries at rest. By the end of the whole experience, she had already planned on when she was coming back next. Plus, you get free snacks after your donation!

Super friendly staff. If you’re nervous — don’t be. They will make sure you feel okay and you are comfortable. Plus, they have great snacks!

i had a bad experience with crystal. in her defense she was new. ask for «kool» she is great ! the rest of the staff there are very friendly, able, carmen, brynda and wendy, to name a few. see you in another 56 days !

It’s pretty hard to find if you’re looking for something more than a tiny store front in a strip mall.
The employees were nice enough but I was a little irritated to discover that contrary to what the recruiter may say, you must wait 12 months after getting a tattoo to give blood. The nurse informed me they have been having issues with recruiters saying whatever it takes to get people to make an appointment. Jerks.
They still offered me cookies and juice on the way out.