Last Easter, a new city-wide interdenominational Christian effort, the Easter Blood Drive, began to mobilize Christians in Ottawa to donate blood or plasma. This was an effort to help the blood supply recover from declining donations due to the pandemic. The need to donate remains ongoing: while 1 in 2 Canadians are eligible to donate, only 1 in 81 does. Christians are a giving and grateful people – and donating is another impactful way to live out these qualities. In 2023, the Drive achieved 200 donations. Our 2024 goal is to double the team’s donors to 300 and double donations to 400. If you are already a registered donor, all you need to do is click on “partners” from the menu when logged into your profile at www.blood.ca or while using the app and select “Easter Blood Drive”. All donations during 2024 will be counted towards the goal. Visit Easterblooddrive.ca to learn more. Canadian Blood Services has also reserved spots for Easter Blood Drive donors on March 23 and March 30 as a special team event and to provide the opportunity for fellowship and some fun. If you have any questions or need assistance to register, Owen Mahaffy of St. Stephen’s Presbyterian is representing the Ottawa Presbytery and can be reached at owenmahaffy@gmail.com. You can also contact the Easter Blood Drive directly at info@blooddrive.ca for answers or to let them stay in touch with you.