Community volunteerism and blood donation: altruism as a lifestyle choice.

Volunteering behavior is culturally based and occurs at different rates in different geographical locations. Although it might be assumed that the links between volunteering and the practice of blood donation would be strong, the reasons for this are less obvious. Blood collection in Australia is conducted exclusively by the Australian Red Cross Blood Service, a non-governmental human service organization with links to the Australian Red Cross. This article is based on research conducted in Australia in 2004, which makes comparisons with the motivations disclosed by blood donors in Canada and the European Union. Whereas some respondents derive benefit from volunteering by experiencing a sense of social connection, others make no such claim. More blood donors feel a responsibility to help others, regardless of personal connection to those receiving the assistance. Furthermore, more blood donors than former blood donors and non-donors have parents who are or were volunteers. Blood donors are represented in greater numbers as having volunteered during their school years too.