What Did YOU Do Today?

I just got back from donating blood. The Red Cross called me last week to say that our area is down to a 20 hour supply of blood (ideally, there would be three days' worth). Since I'm a listed donor and I was eligible to give blood currently, they called and asked me to sign up for a blood drive. I believe in giving blood, so I signed up. All it takes is a little time, and a willingness to not do any heavy lifting for five hours (no problems there). Easy, right?

Apparently not. From September 2003 to September 2004, only 28.8% of Americans over age 16 volunteered at least once for an organization. (See http://www.bls.gov/news.release/volun.nr0.htm for all the gritty details). That means more than 7 out of 10 people gave nothing of their time during the whole year.

I know finding time isn't always the easiest thing to do, and the volunteer work we do for others may not seem as important, as, say, catching this week's episode of Desperate Housewives. But come on, people! Volunteering is a great way to make an impact. As a Christian, I feel that volunteering is an important way to give back to the community and the world. Life is about making a difference, leaving things better than when you found them. We may not all have money, but we all have time. So go on, give a little bit of yourself. Start small if you have to. I bet if you call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543) they can tell you where there's a blood drive in your area tomorrow.

So tell me... what did YOU do today to make our world a better place?

Today's recommended song: We Care a Lot by Faith No More. Sarcastic, biting, and hysterical. "It's a dirty job / But someone's got to do it"