From Crisis to Care: Supporting Our Community Through Blood Donation

On May 17, 2025, volunteers from our Volunteer Ambassadors Program donated blood at Canadian Blood Services in Vancouver. Donating blood is one of the most direct, powerful, and lifesaving ways we can give back to our community.

This blood drive held even greater meaning following the Lapu Lapu Day Block Tragedy on April 26, 2025 a heartbreaking event that led to multiple hospitalizations and rippled through our local Filipino and broader Vancouver communities. In the days immediately after, local residents stepped up in incredible numbers to donate blood, quickly filling appointment slots at donation centres across the city. But while urgent surges generate an initial influx of donors, the need for blood doesn’t stop after the headlines fade. Donation rates often decline just weeks later—right when hospitals still rely on steady supply. Thankfully, our team had already been planning a group blood drive, and by holding it a few weeks after the tragedy, we were able to contribute to sustaining that crucial flow of donations.

While volunteering often looks like packing produce, cleaning parks, or helping at events, donating blood is just as essential. Each unit of donated blood can save up to three lives, and with hospitals in constant need, it’s a simple act with a truly lifesaving impact.

For many of our volunteers, this was not their first donation—and for others, it was. But no one went alone. Through our blood drives, we create a supportive, team-based experience that helps even first-time donors feel confident and cared for.

Join our Volunteer Ambassadors program and check out our upcoming events that do good — we’d love to have you with us!