Single Adults in Brazil Respond to Blood Shortage
Contributed By By Lok Yi Chan, Church News and Events
Tânia Bogado, director of public affairs for the Campo Grande Brazil Stake, donates blood in the Donor Outreach Campaign, which took place on February 18, 2012.
Article Highlights
- The blood drive was organized by single adults and public affairs committees of the Campo Grande Brazil Stake and the Campo Grande Brazil Monte Líbano Stake.
- More than 100 people participated in the drive.
"This kind of action and how much difference it can make in the lives of those who will receive the blood are very important to young single adults because we are not only donating blood—we are donating life!” —Michele do N. N. C. Medina, single adult leader in the Campo Grande Brazil Stake
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The public affairs committees and single adults of two Brazilian stakes—the Campo Grande Brazil Stake and the Campo Grande Brazil Monte Líbano Stake—recently organized a blood drive to help relieve a shortage of blood in area hospitals.
The drive, held on Saturday, February 18, was part of the second single adult conference in Campo Grande, which took place from February 18 to February 21, 2012. As they have done in the past, the stakes joined forces with Face Solidário, a humanitarian aid-focused Facebook group that fosters unity as the main tool for human development, according to the group’s online description. Hemosul, an organization focusing on hemotherapy and hematology in Mato Grosso do Sul, provided all the necessary equipment and personnel for the drive.
The blood drive focused on participation from single adults and young single adults from the Church but also encouraged the participation of people from the community. Among those who participated was Valdeclecio Rodrigues, 22, a member of the Universitário Ward of the Monte Líbano Stake.
“I am happy to help others, and grateful for the opportunity created by the leaders of the Church,” Brother Rodrigues said.
More than 100 people participated in the drive, which was significant considering that the drive was held during Carnival.
Maria Jose, a staff member of Hemosul, said that Carnival usually minimizes the number of blood donations received during this time of the year. “Saturday [February 18] was special because Hemosul was filled with donors,” she said.
Michele do N. N. C. Medina, a single adult leader in the Campo Grande stake, commented on how meaningful this kind of service is to single adults.
“This kind of action and how much difference it can make in the lives of those who will receive the blood are very important to young single adults,” she said. “We are not only donating blood—we are donating life!”
