Week 20 - Make A Wish Foundation - Walk for Wishes and Blood Source

Volunteering 52 different places means that sometimes I am working with a small organization and other times it might be a large organization, like the Make A Wish Foundation. 

An invitation came accross my email a couple weeks ago for the Walk for Wishes, which takes place this Saturday in Sacramento.  How could I turn that down??  So, with only a few weeks to spare, I have rallied a walk team and we will be meeting at the West Steps of the Capitol at 8 am, Saturday morning to show our support for this

The Make-A-Wish Foundation^® of Sacramento & Northeastern California is a charitable non-profit organization whose purpose is to grant wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.

In addition, I am schedule for another blood donation this afternoon with Blood Source.  I started donating earlier this year when I attended a blood drive in honor of a brave little boy who wouldn't be here today if it weren't for a bone marrow donation from stranger on the other side of the country.  Saving a life is so easy!!! 

Blood Facts:

While the need for blood continues to grow, the availability of donors continues to decrease. Today, fewer than four of every ten people in the U.S. are eligible, and fewer than one in ten actually donate.

Quick facts:

• If there are 100 people in a room, 46 will have type O blood, 40 will have type A, 10 will have type B and four will have type AB
• Three teaspoons of blood can save a baby's life
• One donation has the potential to save as many as three lives
• If 50 people donate, they could provide enough blood to take care of victims of a major car accident
• If 20 people donate, they could help one burn victim
• Whole blood donors can give every eight weeks
• Today, fewer than four of every ten people in the U.S. are eligible to give blood. Fewer than one in ten actually donate
• Approximately one out of every seven people entering the hospital needs blood
• Plasma donors can give as often as every three days
• Blood lasts only 42 days
• Platelets last only five days
• Approximately 40,000 pints of blood are used each day in the United States

18 Weeks Down! 34 to go!

It is the 18th week of my commitment to volunteer at 52 different non-propifts over 52 weeks!  I have had so much fun so far.  My list so far:

1. Blood Source Blood Drive
2. St Johns Shelter for Women and Children
3. Ronald McDonald House Charities
4. Grace Foundation x 10
5. Sacramento Zoo
6. Children's Home of Sacramento
7. American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
8. Granite Bay Lacrosse
9. Shamrock'n Half Marathon
10. Birthday Magic
11. Sacramento Police Mounted Association
12. Walk to Remember Bryan E Hall
13. American River Parkway Foundation
14. Volunteer Center of Sacramento
15. March of Dimes - March for Babies 2012
16. Wellspring Women's Center

Some of these activities were a one-time event.  Many of them are on-going.  At this time, I spending a few hours a week as the Sponsorship Coordinator for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and their Out of the Darkness Walk, which takes place later this year.  I have included a quick bio and links to each organization to help share their missions.  Of course, I hope something you see in my blog will spark an interest in one or more of the organizations.  In addition, if you volunteer or hear of an organization that you think I might need to check out, please share.  I would love to hear stories of what all of you are doing in the community.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.  If you like what I am doing, please share with as many people as possible.  Let's spread the message to people in our communities that we all have a responsibility to keep programs like these going.