Blood donation and other volunteer opportunities provide ways for kids to get involved in service to their community.
Driving to work today I heard on the radio that March is National Red Cross Month, and that got me thinking about blood donation. I’ve always been a pretty regular blood donor. I have the universal blood type, and I like knowing that my blood could help practically anybody. I recognize the importance of having blood available when you need it. My twins were born 12 weeks premature, and my daughter required a blood transfusion when she was only a couple of weeks old. I was unable to donate because of my post-delivery status, and my husband was the wrong type. We were grateful that because of an unknown donor, my daughter was able to continue her fight to stay alive.
I just gave blood a few weeks ago at my church. At the time, it occurred to me that blood donation could be a perfect vehicle to get young people involved in service. It’s free and it doesn’t require a lot of time. It’s relatively convenient, as blood drives can be set up practically anywhere, even in local high schools. And, if you can get past the needle stick and the blood-draining-out-of-your-arm concept, it’s fairly painless. Plus, they give you food!
Encourage your kids to sign up for a blood drive soon. Even better, look into hosting one at your school or agency. Get kids involved in the planning and advertising, and use the experience as a learning tool. You can easily incorporate math, reading, writing, science, and other skills into this type of project. Check out the Red Cross website for info blood donation as well as other ways kids can volunteer.
