Beeton, Ontario school keeps up four-year streak of committed blood donation, despite COVID-19

Since 2016, staff from both elementary and secondary schools within the Simcoe County District School Board have been organizing staff blood drives throughout the school year, providing much needed support and adding hundreds of blood donations to our inventory. It has become part of their culture to give back in this way and some schools even organize multiple group donations each year.

Fast forward to 2020, when COVID-19 struck and schools closed their doors. We thought this might spell disaster as groups began cancelling their planned donations when work-from-home orders sent staff in opposite directions. One very persistent school committed to continue donating blood, and for a very good cause.

They donate to honour students at their school who have battled cancer and required blood and blood products as part of their treatment. Despite teaching remotely from their homes, the staff from Tecumseth Beeton Elementary School in Beeton, Ontario still managed to rally a group of staff to meet after school at a mobile donation event in Alliston, Ontario on June 4. In the words of Dana, the group champion, “It’s easy to do! Not only did we donate but we got in a long overdue socially distant visit!”

Thank you to all the partners that continue to give and support Canada’s Lifeline. Because of you, patients continue to receive the blood they need, when they need it. We can help organize your group donation. Just ask!