Help Canadian Blood Services meet a need for donations this Civic Holiday weekend

July 28, 2022

Canadian Blood Services is calling on blood donors in Waterloo Region to make giving blood a part of their long weekend plans. Fifty open donation appointments need to be filled to support area hospitals ahead of the Civic Holiday weekend.

Wilfrid Laurier University encourages all eligible donors in the Laurier community to give blood. Laurier supports Canadian Blood Services as a member of the Partners for Life program. Faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends of Laurier can give blood as part of Laurier’s Partners for Life team.

Joining Laurier's Partners for Life team is easy:

• Set up an account on blood.ca/PFL or the GiveBlood app for Apple or Android.
• Select ‘partners’ from the menu.
• Select ‘join a team’ and start entering Wilfrid Laurier University, which will appear in the drop-down list of team names.
• Select the Laurier team and book an appointment.

Appointments can be booked online and donations can be made at Canadian Blood Services clinics or mobile locations.

Canadian Blood Services’ Waterloo clinic is located at 94 Bridgeport Rd. E. and open during the following times:

• Monday to Thursday from 2 to 7 p.m. 
• Friday from 8 a.m. to noon.
• Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Laurier employee gives for the first time

Laurier employee Kim Elworthy recently gave blood for the first time. Clinic staff told Elworthy that donations from donors with O-negative blood like her are often used to help newborns in need.

“That made me feel like I was really contributing,” Elworthy said in a recent interview with CTV News Kitchener.

It is safe to donate blood during the COVID-19 pandemic. Visit the Canadian Blood Services website for details about screening measures and cleaning practices. If you are unsure if you are eligible to donate, please visit the Canadian Blood Services eligibility page or call 1-888-2-DONATE to speak with a nurse.