Vancouver Latter-day Saints Organize Community Blood Drive

Abby Kennedy had a personal interest in the Canadian Blood Services drive that took place at the Vancouver British Columbia Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints< on October 3, 2024. For the past 30 years, Abby has received weekly lifesaving blood infusions.

Kennedy, a member of the Church, views the first-time blood donation drive with her congregation and Canadian Blood Services (CBS) as an important way of giving back and a significant step toward saving lives locally and nationwide. “I am thrilled to see this blood donation drive happening,” she said. “I always wanted to find a way to give back to Canadian Blood Services because of the lifesaving infusions I continue to receive from them. Now, my Church friends and neighbours are helping to complete the circle of giving.”

CBS is Canada’s biological lifeline. They manage the supply of blood and blood products across Canada, ensuring that hospitals and patients have access to the lifesaving resources they need. Anika McDonald, CBS’s community development manager, deemed the blood drive “truly magnificent, especially for a first-time event. It generally takes several months of recruitment to fill a donation event, and meeting 65 per cent of our collections target this first time together is quite fabulous.”

Encouraging First-time Donors

The majority of donors at the blood drive were participating for the first time. One such donor, Linda Bennett, expressed her long-standing desire to donate blood. “It was so much easier than I thought it would be,” she said. Due to past government regulations, Bennett had previously been unable to give blood. However, with laws changing in December 2023, Bennett now plans to become a regular blood donor.

Behrouz Asgarpour donated blood in Canada for the first time, prioritizing the drive over other important events he had previously scheduled for that day. “I am grateful for the opportunity to help others,” he said. “In our Church, we are asked to give of ourselves. Sometimes that means contributing [monetary donations] through tithes and offerings, and sometimes it involves giving our time through Church callings. By answering the call to donate blood, we are offering something of our physical bodies. If you are healthy, please give blood. You are helping others, and you are aiding God in caring for His children.”

Community Partnership

Richard Bullock, community and humanitarian engagement specialist for the Vancouver British Columbia Stake, was one of the organizers of the blood drive. The goal was to raise awareness of the critical need for blood donations and mobilize the community for a meaningful cause.