America had a rough week. The bombings at the Boston Marathon on Tuesday afternoon shocked the country. The very next evening, horror erupted at a fertilizer plant in West, Texas. Two very different communities dealing with two very different tragedies, yet united in the knowledge that they rallied together in a time of need and that the rest of the country has their backs.
There are many different ways those communities can help their neighbors. For the rest of us, it boils down to two things. Blood or money. Did you know more than 44,000 blood transfusions are needed every day in America? Crazy to think about, isn’t it? One pint of your blood could potentially save three lives. All for a little discomfort, about 30 minutes of your time…and a snack when you’re done. The American Red Cross collects 16 million blood donations every year from 9.5 million donors. Check with your local Red Cross chapter for the next blood drive.
The idea of crowdfunding has grown over the last year as a way for entrepreneurs to get their latest project off the ground. This week, it has turned into a way to help defray the medical costs of the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings. Check out this article about a few different campaigns you can donate to. Another fund you can donate to is The One Fund Boston. This has been set up by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and Boston Mayor Tom Menino, so there’s no doubt your funds will go to the right people. With the events overnight, the situation in Boston seems to be changing by the minute. Keep up to date with the latest with WBZ or the Boston Globe.
In the darkest days of our country, we learn what we’re truly made of. People running into danger to get people they’ve never met to safety. First responders risking their lives to help those trapped in the rubble. We are Americans. It will take much more than cowards with bombs to defeat us.
