‘We want to show people God’s love via our acts,’ initiative organizers said.
As part of their community outreach and in support of the nationwide evangelistic effort dubbed Christ for Thailand, the #CareTeamKorat Caregroup in the city of Nakhon Ratchasima (commonly known as Korat) recently arranged a blood donation drive and community concert in collaboration with the Red Cross.
The blood drive was hosted in Korat’s Terminal 21 mall, with the Caregroup collaborating closely with the Red Cross to ensure that all required safety standards were followed. The goal of the drive was to collect blood for people in critical need of medical attention. The community’s reaction was positive, with donors of all ages lining up to donate blood and support the cause.
“We want to make sure that people in need have access to the blood they need to save their lives,” Arjel Onde, one of the Caregroup members, said. In addition to the blood drive, the Caregroup planned a community concert with students and members of the team, who played motivating songs to urge visitors to give blood and support the cause.
“We wanted to utilize music to motivate and urge individuals to join us in giving back to the community,” team member Nerman Bonanza said. The Caregroup has been active in Korat for some years, working on various programs to assist people in need, such as organizing food drives, offering medical aid, and supporting local schools and orphanages.
“The #CareTeamKorat Caregroup’s initiatives are truly inspiring and are making a big impact in the community through their selfless service,” Terminal 21 vice president Papitchaya Na Nakornpanom said. “It is heartening to see how they are extending compassion to others in simple ways. We are proud to have partnered with this group in becoming avenues of hope for other people. It was a pleasure to witness their successful blood donation drive and community concert, which have undoubtedly made a positive difference in the lives of many,” she added.
Nakornpanom explained that blood donation is a terrific charity for which the donor does not have to invest any money. “But a single blood donation can help many hopeless patients,” she said. Given that most hospitals still have a blood shortage, Terminal 21 urges healthy individuals to give blood every three or four months, Nakornpanom said.
“We at Terminal 21 Korat acknowledge the impact of blood donation and the need of delivering blood to those in need, and we are eager to provide our full support by offering a pleasant and secure environment for all blood donors,” Nakornpanom said. “We would like to thank [donors] for giving blood today and hope that you would come and join us again in the future in doing such a nice thing at Terminal 21 Korat.”
The care-group team’s activities are part of the Christ for Thailand nationwide evangelism program, which strives to promote Christian values and disseminate the word of God across the country.
“We think that our job is a manifestation of our faith, and we want to show people God’s love via our acts,” Bonanza said.
Ultimately, the #CareTeamKorat Caregroup’s blood donation drive and charity concert were a tremendous success, bringing together individuals from all walks of life who shared a common aim of giving back to the community, organizers said. “Their actions inspire others, reminding us of the significance of working together to make a good difference in our communities,” they said.
The original version of this story was posted on the Southern Asia-Pacific Division news site.