Amazingly knowledgeable, smart and experienced people, with a ,"I can help you, regardless,…read moreattitude!

This is the main office in Columbus, and I guess I figured it would be a busy place to give blood…read more It's not, at least, it wasn't on a Monday. Small blood drive area upstairs, a steady stream of people but only a couple of us at a time. Staff were super friendly and helpful. I did the fast-pass thing online and that does save some time, but there are still a lot of questions here, plus blood pressure, etc. Did the power red for the first time. A little slower than a regular donation, because it pulls blood out and separates it, then rehydrates you. So maybe helps recovery time. Still sat and had a snack afterwards, just in case. If you are able, this is a simple, easy thing to do that helps a lot of people. Plus you get a snack, and usually a gift like a t-shirt, gift card, etc. I do it because my dad did, and then after 9/11 it felt like my duty to help. Plus blood drives at work meant an hour break!

I started volunteering with the American Red Cross of Greater Columbus over two years ago. In that…read moretime I have had the opportunity to honor First Responders, Veterans, and Volunteers through the 2018 Heroes Gala. We honored outstanding people who went above and beyond to help their community in their chosen field. One of the most fun events I participated in was the Sound the Alarm program in which we tested and replaced smoke detectors throughout the Greater Columbus area. This was a great opportunity to volunteer in a small group, meet amazing people, make new friends, and help to make sure our neighbors were protected and had plans to evacuate their home in case of a fire. I am currently working with the Recruitment Team to bring awareness to the various opportunities the Red Cross has to help alleviate human suffering. Whether it is by volunteering as a Blood Donor Ambassador, working at Blood Drives, or volunteering to drive in our Blood Transportation area, it allows people to be a part of helping to save countless lives. There are also opportunities in Disaster Response and Relief to help be the best part of a person's worst day. From major natural disasters to a home fire in the middle of the night, these dedicated volunteers are always ready to respond. I am honored to play a part in recruiting new volunteers and seeing them flourish and gain a sense of satisfaction by helping. The American Red Cross of Greater Columbus is an amazing organization and I am so glad that I began to volunteer and know that I will continue to volunteer for many years to come.