A University of Winnipeg student is being lauded for her volunteer work at Canadian Blood Services.
Pavneet Sandhu, a third-year biochemistry student, was one of a handful of volunteers from across the country recognized at Honouring Canada’s Lifeline, a virtual event Canadian Blood Services held at the end of November.
Sandhu received an award for her commitment and generosity to the organization.
"This is my first award, from the first place I started volunteering at, and it is really important for me," Sandhu said during her acceptance speech. "I will honour this for my entire life."
After learning about cancer in high school and having family members diagnosed with the disease, Sandhu became interested in pursuing a medical career. The 20-year-old plans to become an oncologist, which led her to volunteering at Canadian Blood Services.
Sandhu volunteers once a week, welcoming donors to the clinic, answering questions and making sure they are comfortable.
She first got involved in December 2019. She took a break when the COVID-19 pandemic reached Manitoba, but it didn’t last long.
"I was sitting at home and I felt I should (go back)," Sandhu told the Free Press. "This is the time that I can play my role more importantly and it can make a difference, so I continued again to volunteer."
Volunteering at Canadian Blood Services has been an easy and fun experience, Sandhu said, because the people who donate are positive and upbeat.
"I feel happy going there. That place is wonderful," she said. "I get to know more people, and interacting with them is such a pleasure."
Sandhu also volunteers at Health Sciences Centre and CancerCare Manitoba.
Her motivation for helping stems in part from the gratitude she feels for the warm welcome her family received when they moved to Winnipeg from Punjab, India, in September 2018.
"I’m doing it for the community, because the community has given me so many things and I feel I should give it back," Sandhu said, adding her desire to help people and the satisfaction she gets from volunteering are further motivations. "It makes me a little proud of myself. I feel happy that I’m doing something."
Sandhu’s dedication to volunteering throughout the pandemic is amazing, said Brett Howe, territory manager for Canadian Blood Services.
"She has this very infectious personality," Howe said. "She’s super friendly and really welcoming, and always has been a reassuring face to not only returning donors, but new donors as well."
Canadian Blood Services is in the midst of its Season of Giving campaign, which runs until Jan. 4. The organization is hoping to fill 38,000 open blood donation appointments before then, including more than 1,600 open spots in the Winnipeg area.
Howe invites new and returning donors to book an appointment by visiting blood.ca, calling 1-888-236-6283 or via the GiveBlood smartphone app.
Giving blood is one of the easiest things people can do to make a difference in someone’s life, according to Howe.
"There’s no better gift that you can give someone in the hospital," he said. "It only takes an hour out of your day."
If you know a special volunteer, please contact aaron.epp@gmail.com
