WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES FEBRUARY 11, 2021 27
Free antibody testing off ered at these Queens sites
BY ANGÉLICA ACEVEDO
AACEVEDO@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
The New York Blood Center
(NYBC) is giving blood donors
the chance to get free COVID-19
antibody testing at any of its donor
centers and mobile sites in Queens,
as well as other sites across the city,
throughout the month of February.
NYBC is encouraging individuals
to get tested for antibodies through
their blood donation. Donors who
test positive for COVID-19 and had
symptoms might be able to donate
convalescent plasma, which can be
used to treat patients with the virus.
“This important initiative serves
as a thank-you to New Yorkers who
are generous enough to donate and
to encourage more people to come
into our centers,” said Andrea Cefarelli,
senior executive director at
NYBC. “We will communicate with
donors who may become eligible to
donate convalescent plasma to help
those suffering from COVID-19.
While the vaccine rollout has begun,
there are still many who are fighting
this illness.”
The goal of the convalescent plasma
treatment is to use the donor’s
antibodies to help clear the virus
more rapidly and help decrease the
Queens residents donate blood at the Mets semi-annual Fan Blood Drive
on Jan. 14, 2021. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann
need for ICU beds and ventilators.
Each donation can be used to treat
two to three patients struggling
with severe cases of COVID-19.
NYBC was the first to collect
COVID-19 convalescent plasma in
March, and maintains the nation’s
largest public bank. They have sent
close to 100,000 units across the
country.
NYBC will mail results of the
antibody test to donors within two
weeks, but they caution there may
be some delays.
Following the winter storm from
earlier in the week, NYBC is calling
on individuals to donate blood
in order to help with “dangerously
low supply.” Due to the blizzard,
1,500 fewer blood donations were
made, all community blood drives
were cancelled on Monday and
Tuesday, and donor centers had to be
closed early.
Below is a list of upcoming NYBC
sites in Queens neighborhoods:
FRIDAY, FEB. 12:
The Shops at Atlas Park at the
former Pet Shop, from 1 to 7 p.m.
SATURDAY, FEB. 13:
Colony Theater Center (500 Bayside
in Breezy Point), from 8 a.m. to
2 p.m.
The Shops at Atlas Park at the former
Pet Shop, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
SUNDAY, FEB. 14:
St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church
(150-75 Goethals Ave. in Jamaica),
from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Donating blood is safe and may
take one hour. They are taking extra
precautions to help prevent the
spread of COVID-19, and staff are
practicing health self-assessments
before starting work.
Individuals are not eligible to
donate is they’re experiencing a
cold, sore throat, respiratory infection
of flu-like symptoms. For more
information on donor eligibility, you
may visit NYBC’s site.
Donations are by appointment
only and can be scheduled by
calling 800-933-2566 or visit www.
nybc.org.
Bankrate names Ridgewood Savings Bank as one of nation’s best
BY BILL PARRY
BPARRY@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
Ridgewood Savings bank has been named the
2021 Best Regional Bank by Bankrate, the
well-respected personal fi nance website that
compares interest rates, products and services
among banks nationwide.
“With Ridgewood Savings Bank, you’ll get the intimate
feel and personal attention of a community
bank combined with an impressive lineup of digital
banking tools and services,” Bankrate stated in its
extensive review of Ridgewood Savings Bank.
The Bankrate review also gave Ridgewood “high
marks for its customer experience.”
“It gives customers a ton of great tools and
services to manage their money more effi ciently,”
Bankrate said. “From Zelle to Mobile Wallet (payment
card information stored virtually on a mobile
device) to online/mobile Billpay, the bank makes
as many money-moving services available as most
big banks.”
Bankrate’s Best Regional Bank designation is the
third time that Ridgewood has been recognized in
the past 18 months. The bank placed No. 2 on the
listing of “Forbes Best in State Banks 2020;” as well
as within the top fi ve banks for overall quality in
both the New York City and Long Island market in
the “2020 Banking Choice Awards.”
“We are honored to be recognized nationally as
Bankrate’s 2021 Best Regional Bank, especially
as we celebrate our 100th anniversary this year,”
Ridgewood Savings Bank President, CEO and
Chairman Leonard Stekol said. “We’ve helped
generations of New Yorkers achieve fi nancial security
because our products and services support
them at every step of their life’s journey.”
The bank received its charter from New York
State in 1921 when 14 community leaders in
Ridgewood wanted to open a savings bank to
serve residents, who had limited access to New
York’s commercial banks. Ridgewood’s founding
trustees were determined to grow the bank,
which was originally known as the Savings Bank
of Ridgewood.
“The bank has earned these recognitions because
our products off er customers great value and our
digital tools off er them the convenience of 24/7
banking,” Stekol said. “We will continue to expand
and enhance our products and services so we can
keep off ering customers value and convenience.
That’s what we mean when we say Ridgewood is the
bank that off ers Traditional Values and Modern
Solutions.”
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