Editor’s note: Post From Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
By Madison Cercy
Milwaukee, WI – On June 25, in a powerful show of unity and compassion, Milwaukee’s Holy Redeemer Church of God in Christ, under the leadership of Dr. Valerie Daniels Carter, Senior Executive Pastor, and Pastor Jeremy Q. Henry, Lead Pastor/Servant Leader, hosted a groundbreaking blood drive in partnership with American Friends of Magen David Adom (AFMDA) and the Blood Centers of America (BCA).
The drive brought together local congregants of a predominantly African American church in a mission to save lives, locally and globally.
“At Holy Redeemer, we believe in being the hands and feet of Christ, meeting needs, saving lives, and serving our community with compassion. Our blood drive is more than a donation, it’s a declaration that every drop matters, because every life matters,” said Pastor Jeremy Q. Henry
While the blood collected in Milwaukee will stay in the local community, supporting hospitals and patients across the region, the event also symbolized solidarity with those in crisis abroad. Through a contingency agreement with BCA, if the situation in Israel worsens and its blood supply is further depleted, blood from drives like Milwaukee’s could be sent to support lifesaving efforts overseas.
The partnership between AFMDA and local churches was spearheaded by AFMDA national board member, Rabbi Michael Siegel of Anshe Emet Synagogue, and inspired by earlier interfaith collaborations in Chicago, where Rabbi Siegel and Pastor Chris Harris of Bright Star Church have worked closely for years.
After a trip to Israel and discussions about trauma in their respective communities, Pastor Harris was introduced to NATAL, an Israeli organization that provides support for those who have suffered trauma. Working with Rabbi Siegel, he successfully brought the model of trauma-response training to his own community in Chicago’s South Side, a move which sparked a wider conversation around shared experiences of trauma, healing, and partnering for the greater good. This spirit of collaboration eventually inspired the expansion of blood drives beyond Chicago, with Holy Redeemer Church in Milwaukee being the first to take up the call.
“Giving blood is something every person can do to save a life in Israel. From a Jewish and Christian perspective, there is nothing more holy than saving a life,” said Rabbi Siegel. “This is a wonderful opportunity to join together for the health and safety of all people.”
Milwaukee’s blood drive was more than symbolism. It was a moment of action rooted in shared values, compassion, care for the vulnerable, and commitment to community. Known for its commitment to diversity, MDA represents the full spectrum of Israeli society with medics from Christian, Muslim, and Druze communities and a wide variety of ethnicities. As the nation’s official emergency services system, it treats all who need help without regard to race or religion.
Holy Redeemer’s blood drive marked the beginning of a growing interfaith initiative that AFMDA hopes to replicate across the country.The long-term vision? Churches and synagogues partnering to host blood drives around Easter and Passover, two sacred holidays rich with the symbolism of sacrifice and redemption. The campaign, centered on what organizers call “the blood of redemption,” aims to strengthen communities, expand the country’s blood supply, and deepen bonds between faith groups.
“This is what faith in action looks like,” said one church member who participated in the drive. “It’s not just about words from the pulpit. It’s about doing something that can save a life, whether that’s here in Milwaukee or across the world.”
As communities across the country look for meaningful ways to come together, Milwaukee’s interfaith blood drive offers a powerful model of what’s possible. By uniting in service of a shared mission, participants showed that compassion knows no boundaries and that through small acts of giving, we can strengthen both our communities and our common humanity.
About American Friends of Magen David Adom
American Friends of Magen David Adom (AFMDA) is the U.S.-based fundraising arm of Magen David Adom, Israel’s national emergency medical service. AFMDA helps ensure that MDA’s 37,500 paramedics, EMTs, first responders, and volunteers have the training, equipment, and vehicles needed to save lives in Israel and around the world. Paramedics and EMTs represent every religious and ethnic group in Israel — Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Druze, Bedouin, and more — and work side-by-side to save the lives of every person in need. For more information, visit www.afmda.org.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
