Kempton Park church’s youth-led blood drive continues to save lives

The New Apostolic Church Kempton Park North opened its doors to the public for a blood drive, continuing its community giving initiative, on November 23.

The project, which has run for almost two years, aims to save lives and encourage community members to give back. It was designed to help people in need, especially those requiring blood due to medical emergencies, and to inspire participants to think of others.

James Chinangwa, a youth leader at the church, explained the motivation behind the project.

“We started this initiative to give back to the community in any way we could. We chose a blood drive because many people suffer from medical conditions and struggle to access blood donations. We wanted to help by saving lives.

“We’ve been running this initiative for two years and want to encourage more young people across Kempton Park, Gauteng, and SA to join us and help save lives.”

While the church continues to host blood drives, attendance has sometimes been lower than expected. Chinangwa stressed the importance of participation, noting that one donor can save up to three lives.

“Even if only one person donates, three people’s lives can be saved. That’s better than nothing, and it motivates us to continue,” he said.

Church director Gregory Pritchard, a regular blood donor, welcomed the convenience of hosting the drive at the church.

“I’m a regular donor, and I’m glad we can do it here rather than having to go to a mall or a blood bank,” Pritchard said.

“As Christians, we should not only pray or provide welfare, but also take tangible action to help people. Blood is always in short supply, especially during December with road accidents and high demand. We hope this initiative grows even further.”

The blood drive, led by the church’s youth, supports the community outside the congregation. In the past, the church hosted initiatives to feed the homeless.

The blood drive now takes place after Sunday services, making it accessible to a larger number of participants. Donations are open to everyone, not only church members.

Blood donor Deandre Matthysen praised the initiative.

“I donate every three months. People need blood, whether from accidents or other emergencies. I hope the recipients benefit from my donation. What the church is doing is a positive way of giving back and helping those in need.”

The church plans to continue hosting the blood drives, aiming to save as many lives as possible and inspire the wider community to give back.