Canadian Blood Services’ annual Bleed & Feed is back for the third year in a row with the goal of fulfilling 14,000 holiday miracles for B.C. and Yukon residents.
The program, in partnership with Food Banks BC, is counting on B.C. residents to become “miracle workers” by making more than 14,000 blood donations between Dec. 1 and Jan. 2 and bringing in non-perishable food items for local food banks to help alleviate the hunger felt by nearly 100,000 people.
“We’re so pleased our member food banks across B.C. can partner again with Canadian Blood Services in this unique and collaborative initiative,” said Laura Lansink, Executive Director, Food Banks BC. “It’s a win-win proposition for people who want to help fulfil not one but two miracles in their community this holiday season.”
B.C. residents can book a donation appointment by visiting www.blood.ca or calling 1-888-2-DONATE (1-888-236-6283). Donated food items will be collected until Dec. 31 in specially marked Bleed & Feed food collection boxes located in the front waiting area of blood donor clinics across the province. Food collected in Surrey will be donated to the Surrey Food Bank.
“Unfortunately, the need for blood never takes a holiday and neither does hunger,” said Ed Yee, Director of Donor and Clinic Services for the B.C. and Yukon region of Canadian Blood Services.
“Many families will be celebrating the holidays in hospital this year, while others struggle to have a meal. We hope to rally B.C. residents together and make the season brighter for more local families in need.”
A blood donation this holiday season is the perfect gift. It costs nothing and it’ll give someone a holiday miracle. It can take five donors to help one person in cancer treatment so Canadian Blood Services encourages donors to bring along a friend or family member when they donate.
The Surrey Blood Donor Clinic at 15285 101 Avenue is open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday’s from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and at the same time on select Saturdays, which include Dec. 8 and 22.
To learn more about your local food bank, visit www.foodbanksbc.com. The Surrey Food Bank’s website is www.surrreyfoodbank.org