Belleville Councillor Mike Graham November 28, 2016 (Photo: Mary Thomas/Quinte News)
Canadian Blood Services is calling on the city of Belleville to partner with it to increase the number of blood donors.
Services Territory Manager Debbi Barfoot told city council this week that the program Partners for Life is aimed at getting people to adopt a clinic and donate blood as a team.
She said 17,000 units of blood are needed every week. Belleville needs 115 units each week.
Barfoot says the town of Perth over-collected since joining the program.
The idea is to host an event, recruit new donors and drive people to clinics.
Barfoot says she needs 340 new donors and doesn’t expect that to happen by the end of the year.
Councillor Mike Graham told council he had a blood disorder this year and needed three units every week for five months.
He said “I would not be alive today if it wasn’t for blood donors.”
Council sent the request along to its human resources department.
Canada Blood Services hosts a blood donor clinic the first Monday of every month, at the Belleville Fish and Game Club from 1-7 p.m.
