Interfaith Collaboration Leads to a Successful Blood Drive

Proving COVID can’t keep local residents from working together to save lives, on February 13, 2020, two Tri-Valley congregations from two different faith traditions hosted a successful Red Cross blood drive. The Danville congregations of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and San Ramon Valley United Methodist Church (SRVUMC) teamed up to sponsor the all-day blood drive at a time when blood donations were low but the need for blood was high. The Red Cross provided the donation equipment and phlebotomist staff. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provided their gymnasium at 655 Old Orchard Drive in Danville for the donation event space, which allowed maximum social distancing. Volunteers from both churches worked together in this interfaith collaboration to recruit local blood donors and provide volunteer support on site for both donors and the Red Cross. Social distancing, mask, and sanitation rules were followed. The congregations together registered 55 donors who donated a combined 49 units of blood, which can potentially save up to 147 lives. The two congregations share a strong commitment to mission and service. This blood drive is the second collaboration between the two congregations in recent months. Last November, members of both churches worked together to prepare hygiene supply kits to donate to local residents and homeless in need of personal hygiene supplies. The event is a good reminder that differences in faith traditions can prove unifying rather than divisive for our community.