More Than a Hundred APNGOs Staff Roll Up Their Sleeves for Blood Drive in Srikakulam

On a sunny Sunday in Srikakulam, the corridors of the APNGOs office buzzed with a quiet kind of excitement. More than a hundred employees slipped their arms into donation chairs, each drop of blood a tiny promise to strangers in need.

The event wasn’t just a routine corporate outreach; it was inaugurated by two well‑known faces in the region. Chowdary Purushottam Naidu, the chairman of the Pensioners Joint Action Committee, cut the ribbon alongside industrialist‑philanthropist Sura Srinivasa Rao, the founder of the SSR Trust. Their presence added a sense of gravitas, and they made sure every donor got a fresh fruit slice as a small token of thanks.

Rao, speaking to the gathered crowd, reminded everyone that many families in the district cannot afford the steep prices charged by private blood banks. “A single unit of blood can be the difference between life and death for a poor or middle‑class family,” he said, his voice steady but earnest. He also announced that the SSR Trust plans to organize at least ten more medical camps over the next two months, hoping to reach even more patients who are waiting for a safe, affordable blood supply.

Naidu used the platform to issue a broader call to action. He urged APNGOs and other community groups to replicate this initiative across all mandal headquarters, believing that regular blood‑donation drives could cultivate a culture of generosity in semi‑urban and rural areas alike.

The donated blood is destined for patients admitted to the Government Medical College’s hospital, where many are battling serious illnesses and rely on timely transfusions. For the donors, the act felt simple yet profound—“just a few minutes of my time, but maybe years for someone else,” one employee reflected.

As the day wound down, volunteers collected the fruit baskets, thanked the donors, and cleaned up the venue. The spirit of the day lingered, promising that this isn’t a one‑off event but a stepping stone toward a more compassionate, health‑aware community.