Youth Saving Lives: “We Are Red” Blood Donation Campaign Returns for Summer 2025

While many people head to the beach during summer vacation, some youth volunteers are choosing to save lives instead. We Are One, a youth volunteer group affiliated with Shincheonji Church of Jesus, has launched its fifth large-scale blood donation initiative—the 2025 “We Are Red” Blood Donation Campaign—to help stabilize the blood supply during the critical holiday season.

Blood Donations During Vacation Season

On July 29, 2025, We Are One’s Seoul-Gyeonggi Western Regional Union kicked off its campaign at Boramae Park Station, where a mobile blood donation bus was set up at Exit 1. The campaign will run until October 18, targeting a period when blood donations typically drop due to summer vacations.

On the first day alone, 52 volunteers donated whole blood, and the outreach didn’t stop there. Despite the scorching weather, volunteers handed out 100 hand fans and 90 bottles of ice water to passersby, helping to keep citizens safe and cool while raising awareness about the importance of blood donation.

More Than Just a Donation: A Culture of Life

What makes this campaign especially meaningful is its expansion into designated blood donation and blood certificate donations for the first time. Over the past four campaigns (from 2022 to 2024), We Are One gathered over 166,000 donors and collected more than 110,000 blood donation certificates. With the new additions, this year’s campaign aims to further systematize and expand life-sharing efforts.

A creative photo zone was also installed, inviting participants to write a personal message under the theme “What does blood donation mean to me?”—a small but heartfelt way to turn each donor’s action into a story.

Real Stories, Real Impact

One participant, Hwang Yoon-jung (29, Guro-gu), who also joined last year, shared:

“I often see news about blood shortages, and I’ve realized how urgent the need is. Even a short moment of my time could be a huge help to someone in crisis. That’s why I keep participating.”

This is not a one-off event. For over a decade, Shincheonji Church of Jesus and its youth volunteers have led a nationwide life-sharing movement, with more than 200,000 total participants and a cumulative donation value of over ₩1.045 billion (approx. $800,000). In recognition of these efforts, Chairman Man Hee Lee of Shincheonji was recently awarded a commendation from the Korean Red Cross on World Blood Donor Day in June 2025.

A Community That Cares

Even health authorities are taking notice. Jeong No-sik, Team Leader at the Seoul Central Blood Center, commented:

“As summer holidays begin, the blood supply becomes unstable. This campaign is a great help, and we encourage more citizens to participate, even for a short time.”

The We Are One regional branch also shared their ongoing commitment:

“We’ll continue promoting a positive culture of blood donation through creative programs, helping more people join in the movement of life-sharing.”

Source:  https://vo.la/rZjnWs