Help a vampire out and give blood!

Ok, so you aren't actually going to be helping any vampires out but you will be helping other people in serious need of blood.

Every minute of every day, someone needs blood. That blood can only come from a volunteer donor, a person who makes the choice to donate. There is no substitute for that donation. Only 38% of Americans are eligible to donate blood and of those only 8% actually do. That amounts to only about 3 out of every 100 people in America donate blood. Can you believe that?! I was shocked to learn that.

From it's beginning, the American Red Cross has formed a community of service, of generous, strong and decent people bound by beliefs beyond themselves. The American Red Cross blood donor embodies this principle. I encourage my readers (wow, that sounds cool) to please help them in the mission to maintain a safe and stable blood supply by making your appointment to donate blood today.

To find out where you can donate, visit www.redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543).

Today I was one of those people and I donated blood. I went to the American Red Cross Center in Santa Monica. Giving blood is something that I've been doing since I was in college. It makes me feel good to know that I could possibly be saving a life with my blood. I actually learned that all the blood given this week will probably be going to Haiti! Isn't that great?! Despite feeling a little lightheaded and weak after, it's a very painless experience.

"In every community, there is work to be done. In every nation, there are wounds to heal. In every heart, there is the power to do it." -Marianne Williamson

Remembrance

Today I received a very sweet email from my dear friend Meagan and I felt compelled to post it here in my blog today. May we never forget the importance of Martin Luther King Jr.'s words and what he stood for in this world. I feel blessed to have friends that remind me of just that everyday. Thank you Meagan for this email.

Dear Friends and Family,

Today is for remembrance of Martin Luther King, Jr. For some of us, that means a three day weekend. For others, like myself, it is another day at work. As I read the morning paper, I could not help but be overwhelmed by the situation in Haiti. The Pan American Health Organization estimates that between 50,000 to 100,000 people died during the earthquake on January 12^th that reached a magnitude of 7.0 on the Richter scale. This number does not include individuals who were injured, or individuals who are still missing. Those who survived are living outside for fear of being in a building that might collapse. Desperation runs rampant as riots continue. In summary, the situation is bad.

As I learn more about what is going on in Haiti, I think back on my years at Carolina Friends School. Each year we celebrated MLK Jr. Day and his vision of creating a powerful social force based on love and compassion for our fellow man. For me, the basic message was to stand up for a cause that you believed in.

Today, we recognize the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.; looking at how far we have come and how far we still have to go in this country. But it is also a time to look at which causes are important to us, and for which we want to make a stand.

I have chosen to make a small donation to the American Red Cross for disaster relief in Haiti. And I want to urge you to consider making a donation (either monetary or volunteering time at your local Red Cross). Part of me hates to be that person who is asking others to give. However, I feel compelled to do something, and the more donations received the bigger the impact. Although we all struggle from time to time, our lives are truly blessed.

I appreciate you taking the time to read this email. And I thank you in advance for considering the situation in Haiti.

With love and compassion,

Meagan