Make A Difference Day: You Can Make a Difference

by Catherine Carlton, volunteer contributor

Make a Difference Day is a big deal at Red Cross, and it’s not.

It’s a big deal because so many people come together to support helping those in need. It’s not, because the Red Cross makes a difference in people’s lives every day.

My reason for giving is because life has taught me that you never know when it might be “your turn” to turn to the community for help.

For me, giving back is a priority. 

The Red Cross mission is: “The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.”

It’s the kind of mission that you can easily understand and want to be a part of. You want to help make a difference in alleviating suffering. 

Be it a fire, a floor, a tornado or earthquake, the Red Cross is often the first one there to make a difference.

You can make a difference, too.  You just have to choose what you want to do. It’s easy. Start with a day: today.  You’ll see how easy and fullfilling it is, and eventually it won’t be just a day. 

• Learn about giving blood.
• Make a donation.
• Volunteer.
• Take a class. 

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Taking Action on Make a Difference Day

by Jennifer Holland Jameson, volunteer contributor

Volunteer this Make a Difference Day.

As a Navy wife constantly relocating to new cities and a mom of two kids, I’ve had to suspend my defiantly independent attitude and ask for help in countless ways. There’s a certain level of expectation for family members to lend support in tough times, but the assistance from strangers simply astounds me sometimes. It’s that kind of unconditional generosity that gives me hope for a future where my children will thrive. 

I’ve often wondered how to foster a heart for acts of service in these two tiny people who are so inward focused and oblivious to the hurt of others outside of their toy-packed playroom. How do I instill in my son and daughter that same inspiration of hope I found? 

I needed to show them. 

Like most busy moms, I didn’t know how to give any more of myself when I already felt defeated at any given moment. The demands of a newborn and a preschooler had reduced me to a walking napkin that smelled like BO and soured milk. I desired to make a difference in my community, but I didn’t know how to do it. 

The afternoon I watched news reports of determined men and women pulling dirtied, bloody children from an obliterated elementary school after a tornado struck Moore, Okla., I knew I could no longer sit on the couch and just cry. I was motivated more than ever to DO something. 

The American Red Cross was the first website I checked. Instead of just donating money, I was enticed by the “volunteer” tab. I was fascinated by all of the ways this iconic charity mapped out how anyone could help that wasn’t just rushing to the scene of a disaster or giving blood. 

It was such a gift to find a position that called for writers, a skill I had honed as a newspaper journalist before I became a mom. I’m eager to pour myself into my north Texas community and learn new skills through the many training options. 

Finally, I have an opportunity that allows me to make a difference and show my children how to give hope to others.

This Make a Difference Day, don't just think about wanting to make a difference, do it. Take the first step at RedCross.org/DFW.

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