Canadian Blood Services’ annual Bleed and 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 blood.ca or calling 1-888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283). Donated food items will be collected Dec. 1 to 31 in specially marked Bleed and Feed food collection boxes located in the front waiting area of blood donor clinics across the province.
In Courtenay, food collected will be donated to the Comox Valley 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.” Blood is a lifeline for many people during the festive season, including car accident victims with major bleeding or individuals who need a liver transplant, cardiovascular surgery or cancer treatment. A blood donation is the perfect gift. It costs nothing and it’ll give someone a holiday miracle. Clinics in Courtenay at the Florence Filberg Centre at 411 Anderton Ave. include: • Dec. 11 and 12, 1:30 to 7:30 p.m. • Dec. 13, 12:30 to 6:30 p.m.
To learn more about your local food bank, visit www.foodbanksbc.com. For more information about Canadian Blood Services, go to blood.ca.
— Canadian Blood Services