Wadeville employees roll up sleeves for life-saving blood drive
A local company’s initiative to host regular blood drives at work is creating a culture of care and boosting donations in the Wadeville community.
Copalcor in Wadeville recently hosted a blood donation drive.
For the past two years, the company has been making a powerful impact on the lives of those in need of blood.
With a work force of over 300 people, the company has been encouraging and educating workers about the power of blood donations.
The company’s managing director, Derick Coetzee, said the initiative forms a vital part of their commitment to giving back to the community.
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“We believe everyone can do their part in making a difference.
“For us, bringing the blood drive directly to our workplace makes it easier for our staff to get involved because sometimes we don’t have time,” he explained.
He acknowledged that many employees lead busy lives and may not have the time to visit external blood donation sites.
“By hosting the SANBS on site, we’re removing the barriers. Our staff can step away from their desks for a few minutes and come back knowing they’ve contributed to saving lives,” said Coetzee.
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He said it’s not just about collecting pints of blood, it’s also about education. “When the SANBS team visits, they bring a wealth of information. Our workers get to learn about the process, who benefits from their donations, and why regular donors are so critical.
In our work force we have young and old staff who share different views and beliefs about blood donation. Having the SANBS on site offers the opportunity for them to ask questions and be empowered,” said Coetzee.
The response has been overwhelmingly positive. Over the past two years, staff members have shown up in impressive numbers, many becoming regular donors.
The company has successfully met its blood donation targets at every drive, and Coetzee said he couldn’t be prouder.
“Our employees have opened their hearts. Their willingness to serve in this way is incredibly humbling. They’re showing compassion and a real sense of social responsibility,|” said Coetzee.
Employees themselves have echoed this sentiment. Some say they never donated blood before the workplace initiative, but are now committed to being regular donors.
Others, especially first-time donors, shared how the experience was both educational and fulfilling.
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With each blood drive, the company continues to strengthen its culture of care, unity, and community engagement, proving that businesses can be powerful agents of change, not only within their industries but also within the lives of those they serve.
As the company looks ahead, it plans to keep the blood drive programme running and hopes to inspire other companies to do the same.
“One unit of blood can save up to three lives. If we can play even a small part in that, then we’ve done something meaningful and we invite other companies in the area who are interested in joining to do so,” said Coetzee.
