By Jonty Ralphsmith
Five Cook4Cald volunteers donated blood at the pop-up donation centre at Narre Warren North Hall on Wednesday 9 March.
Every donation helps to save three lives and the members at lifeblood were happy to do their bit after their community engagement has been limited in recent times because of the pandemic.
“Donating blood is such an easy way to help so many people: it’s free, the environment is so lovely, the people there are so lovely, comforting you and encouraging you to make you feel comfortable,” said Ashvina De Zoysa, president of Cook4Cald.
Everyone has such a good time and it’s the least anyone could do – it takes less than 15 minutes.”
Ashvina is a regular donor and said fellow Cook4Cald members Caitlin Cook, Shiuli De Zoysa, Kushan Nawagamuwage and Tin Truong were all keen to partake and had a pleasurable experience.
“It’s great for Cook4Cald to get out into the community because we haven’t been able to do much engagement throughout the lockdowns and I really want us to do as much as we can,” Ashvina added.
“We want to be very diverse in our support and we have to expand our support to make it accessible.”
Cook4Cald is a not-for-profit organisation based in Melbourne’s southeast that aims to help people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds who experience difficulty in putting food on the table.
Friday 11 March is the pop-up clinic’s final day in this block.
Lifeblood will return to Narre Warren North Hall from Monday 30 May until Friday 10 June, Monday 29 August until Friday 9 September and again from Monday 28 November until Friday 9 December.
Cook4Cald plan on donating again.
To learn more about donating, call 13 14 95 or visit lifeblood.com.au
