Blood drive about giving back
By Chris Simon

Photo by Chris Simon Bruce Vanden Berg, 17, had a needle in his arm, donating blood at a clinic in Innisfil Community Church last week. Clinic staff reached their goal of collecting 64 pints of blood from local residents. Another clinic will be held at the church in December. For more information, call 1-888-236-6283.

Bruce Vanden Berg was giving back to his community Thursday evening.

The 17-year-old was donating blood at a clinic in the Innisfil Community Church last week. Vanden Berg has donated blood four times. And each time, the needle gets a little easier to stick in his arm.

"The needle going into you gets all right after awhile," he said, laughing. "It's just a way to give back to the community, you're volunteering. I know it helps people. My sister's in college to be a nurse right now, so she got me started in it."

Overall, Canadian Blood Services reached their clinic goal, receiving about 64 pints of blood from local residents Thursday.

Blood Services hosts clinics in the church every two months, usually reaching their goal every time, said organizer Janice Taylor.

"It's a very good clinic we have here," she said. "The donors always come out. This clinic usually gets its quota, or close to it."

Taylor says any healthy person between 17 and 71 years old should consider donating blood.

"If you donated, you can save up to three lives," she said. "They have to wait 56 days before they can donate again.

"There's always a need for blood. It's sent out to all the hospitals in the Toronto region, including this area. It's always needed for car accidents (and) cancer treatments."

Mayor Brian Jackson, who sponsored the event and also donated a pint of blood, agrees.

"I've donated (once) before. It's been ongoing at the church for a number of years. It's a reasonable thing to do, and a good thing for all our residents to participate in, if they can," he said.

"It's an opportunity to help people in need of a blood transfusion. It's a good thing to do for society in general. You never know, some day, you may need that transfusion."

The next church clinic will be held Dec. 20.

However, Blood Services does have a permanent clinic on Bayview Drive in Barrie. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, call 1-888- 236-6283.