CHCSA organizes its ninth blood donation drive and shows how blood donors are all superheroes.
Contributed By Dannon Har
Conducting their ninth blood donation drive this year in September, City Harvest Community Services Association is well on its way to completing a total of fourteen planned blood donation drives for 2010.
For the very first time, the drive was held at *SCAPE, a well-known youth hub located within busy shopping district Orchard Road. The purpose of this was to attract youths and the public in the vicinity to donate blood. “We distributed flyers to encourage the youths to walk-in,” said Sheryl Lim, 26, a social worker in CHCSA. “Turns out, there was an increase in the number of walk-in donors this time round, probably due to the central location,” added Lim.
A unique feature of CHCSA’s blood donation drives is that they each have a theme. Past drives have seen themes such as car racing and soccer mania; this time round, the theme was Superheroes. During the drive, comic-book hero characters such as Superman and Spiderman could be seen walking around the premises entertaining the crowd. “In blood donation drives, waiting is inevitable. The purpose of having themes is to help donors pass their time in a fun and entertaining way as they wait for their turn to donate blood. It helps calm nerves as well,” said Spencer Soh, 26, a CHCSA volunteer who was dressed as Spiderman that day.
The costume characters facilitated booth games during the drive and posed for photographs with the donors. Photos were instantly printed out and given to the donors as a keepsake, making the blood donating experience memorable, for all the right reasons.
 |
| PHOTOS: Sim Kiat Seng |
Yeo Ying Fang, 22, a CHCSA volunteer dressed as Supergirl said, “The Superheroes theme is very apt as all the donors are the real superheroes, since they are donating blood to save lives.”
The superheroes also went around to the blood donors who were in the process of donating blood, getting them to pick a trivia question about superheroes from a mystery box, enabling them to win a prize.
“CHCSA staff members and volunteers have put in a lot of effort to make donors feel at ease,” said Delia Teo, 23, a fifth-time donor. “I give because I am motivated by the fact that one bag of blood can save three lives.” Teo added that she always tries to donate together with her friends, and although she is still afraid of the process, she knows that the team of nurses and volunteers are always friendly and ready to help.
Said Andy Chia, 20, a first- time donor, “I was afraid initially, but I’ve realized that it is actually not as painful as people think. And I feel that I have done something good after donating blood.”
Giving blood is a little sacrifice on one’s part that goes a long way toward the good of the community. You never know when that bag of blood you’ve donated may go toward giving someone a new lease of life.
