Community Corner

Millburn Resident's 'The Messy Artist' Hosts 1st Blood Drive

Charitable effort drew donors from towns including Millburn, East Hanover, Chatham, Parsippany, Summit, Livingston, Bloomfield and Nutley.

The Messy Artist art studio in East Hanover, owned by Millburn resident Donna Bernstein, was transformed last Sunday for a unique event. Gone were the easels and paint, the paper and clay, summer camp and birthday party supplies.  All were moved out of the way so that the American Red Cross could set up their equipment for a blood drive.

“This is our first blood drive and we are thrilled with the way it has turned out,” said Bernstein, creator and CEO of The Messy Artist.  “We moved to this location in East Hanover last summer and have been wanting to do a blood drive ever since. It’s been fantastic to see our students’ families and the community come in and be so generous to donate blood.”

Donors came from all over the local area to donate: Millburn, Parsippany, Summit, Bloomfield, Chatham, Nutley, East Hanover and Orange were a few of the towns represented.

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“We put out art supplies so kids could be entertained while their parents donated blood, and local merchants donated coupons so that we were able to provide a gift bag to each donor," Bernstein said. "Godfather’s Brick Oven Pizza and Philly Pretzel Factory of Livingston each donated food for today, so the donors had a nice meal or snack to enjoy after giving blood.”


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