Canadian Blood Services is facing a shortage of donors in North Burnaby, and the national blood bank is asking local residents to help.
Canadian Blood Services moved one of its mobile clinics from Burnaby North Secondary to Cliff Avenue United Church in November.
Since the move, the number of donors has dropped, partly because of the new location change and also because donations tend to slow in the holiday season.
"It is affecting us. Because of the holiday season a lot of people are very busy and they don't have the blood donation as one of the things they want to do," said Arleen Asi, who works as an event specialist with Canadian Blood Services. "For us, our job is to remind people we need help to supply hospital demands."
The new clinic at Cliff Avenue Church is at 1600 Cliff Ave. in North Burnaby.
One person receiving treatment for cancer could need blood from up to five donors, Asi said.
"That would mean we will have a tough time to supply all our hospital demand," Asi said. "We supply all the B.C. and Yukon. If we don't have enough supply we have to ask another province to help."
The Cliff Avenue mobile clinic runs on Thursdays, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., every eight weeks and should be in the same place until 2014. The next chance to donate is Jan. 10. Out of 174 appointments available, only 50 donors have been booked so far. To make an appointment to www.blood.ca or call 1-888-236-6283.
