The Western Cape Blood Service (WCBS) launched the Extra Drop Initiative in March 2025 after research conducted in 2021 and 2022 showed that although blood donors love the tokens of appreciation they receive when donating blood, they wanted an alternative option that allowed them to make their donation go even further. The initiative was approved by the WCBS Board and the Extra Drop was born. The Extra Drop initiative gives blood donors the opportunity to make a significant difference to local, deserving causes across the Western Cape.
So how does the Extra Drop work?
After donating blood, each donor will receive a token of appreciation. Donors can now choose to either keep this token of appreciation, or have WCBS donate R15 toward these worthy causes.
Each of our charity partners has been carefully chosen by the WCBS committee based on the following criteria: They must be based in the Western Cape and serve communities within the province, they must be a registered non-profit organisation, and they should focus on one or more of the following sectors: healthcare, education, poverty alleviation, youth development, early childhood development, disability, humanitarian, environmental or animal welfare.
As we enter the final trimester of 2026, we are excited to welcome two new beneficiaries, including Meals on Wheels, a non-profit organisation committed to alleviating hunger, supporting vulnerable people and strengthening communities throughout the Western Cape. Their service extends beyond providing food; they restore dignity and bring practical care and hope to those who need it most.
Our second new beneficiary for the current trimester is The Zoe Project. They provide invaluable support to moms facing difficult situations during pregnancy by offering counselling, information, education and essential resources. They are committed to transforming the lives of our most vulnerable community members.
Since its inception, WCBS, together with blood donors has supported nine amazing charities. The latest charities to benefit from the initiative were St Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, an intermediate paediatric care facility that provides transitional care to children from vulnerable communities who require care after hospital discharge, and Philisa Abafazi Bethu, a gender-based violence organisation focused on healing abused women and children. Thanks to our amazing donors, each organisation received R32 190.
Earlier this year, U-Turn, a non-profit organisation that has crafted an innovative skills-based programme designed to assist homeless people and facilitate long-term results for rehabilitation and integration, received R32 312.50, together with SANCCOB, an organisation dedicated to reversing the decline of seabird populations through rescue, rehabilitation and release, especially for critically endangered species like the African Penguin, which received the same amount.
In 2025, the Extra Drop Initiative donated a total of R202 305 to five worthy causes, namely, The League of Friends of the Blind, Hannah’s Place of Safety, The Lucky Lucy Foundation, The South African Bone Marrow Registry and Operation Smile.
We are confident that our two new beneficiaries will receive the same support from our donors, as they continue to make a difference through blood donation and the Extra Drop initiative. Whether you choose to keep your token of appreciation or ask WCBS to donate R15 to our deserving charity partners, your generosity has a lasting impact.
Together, we can continue to give hope, support vulnerable communities and make every donation count. Visit your nearest WCBS blood donation clinic and be part of the difference, because one extra drop can change countless lives.
