Northampton County Council on Jan. 8 read a proclamation and adopted a resolution declaring January 2026 National Blood Donor Awareness Month in the county and invited Miller Keystone Blood Center to accept the recognition.

"Whereas January was designated National Blood Donor Month in 1970...now, therefore, it is hereby proclaimed by Northampton County Council and by the County of Northampton that January 2026 shall be declared as National Blood Donor Awareness Month within Northampton County," a councilmember read as the proclamation was presented to the center.

Lena Barbieri, chief philanthropy officer for Miller Keystone Blood Center, introduced herself and thanked the council: "My name is Lena Barbieri. I am the chief philanthropy officer for Miller Keystone Blood Center." She and Danny Youssef, the blood center's vice president for marketing, said the county's partnership has been important and that the winter months are difficult for donations.

Barbieri told council the center expects delivery of a bloodmobile funded in part through recent county support "probably in the next 60 days," and invited county officials to visit when it goes into service.

Council followed the ceremonial proclamation with a formal resolution adopting the same declaration and discussed outreach methods, including using the county's employee email and partnering on local blood drives. The council adopted the resolution by roll-call vote, announced as adopted 9–0.

The resolution and proclamation note that Miller Keystone, founded in 1971, serves hospital networks in eastern Pennsylvania and western New Jersey and that about 350 donors are needed daily to meet the center's regional transfusion needs.