CrestClean Christchurch helps community with group blood donation
The Christchurch team and the region’s franchise owners recently rolled up their sleeves to donate blood at NZ Blood, and what a fantastic turnout it was!
The idea came up during a staff meeting, when the team started brainstorming ways to do something meaningful together outside of work. Administration Assistant Debby Taylor suggested a group blood donation, and the response was amazing – 15 people volunteered! On the day, everyone showed up with big smiles and plenty of enthusiasm. There were so many donors that two separate bookings had to be made just to fit everyone in.
“It was fantastic to see them all down there,” says Debby.
For most of the group, it was their first time donating, which made the effort even more special. A few nerves popped up at the start, but once people saw how simple and straightforward the process was, those worries quickly disappeared. By the end, many were already talking about returning for their next donation.
The team is now planning their next blood drive in three months, when everyone will be eligible to donate again. With the first event such a success, they’re confident even more people will join next time.
“It’ll be interesting to see who comes back,” says Debby, “but now that they’ve done it once, I think most people will.”
Debby herself is no stranger to NZ Blood, visiting every two weeks as a regular plasma donor. She says the staff always make donors feel comfortable and cared for, and the new Aurora machines have made plasma donations quicker and easier than ever.
For the Christchurch team, it was also a nice way to give back to the NZ Blood staff they already support through CrestClean’s cleaning services.
“They were so pleased we had so many people,” says Debby.
Each donor received a certificate and left knowing they had done something that could help save lives.
