This blog post is sponsored by the American Red Cross. All opinions are my own.

Let's talk about giving back, shall we? Community service, volunteering, fundraisers - there are so many ways to give back to your local community, or to the world at large. Angeline and I used to have done everything from donate blood to volunteering at a wildlife sanctuary in the Keys to fostering kittens for the Humane Society. Volunteering and donating to charitable causes gives one a sense of purpose, connection to our communities and really just makes people FEEL GOOD. One thing I never really thought about was volunteering with the American Red Cross - until recently! I want to share these 5 Ways to Give Back to Your Community with you today to inspire and encourage you to become a volunteer as well!

There are so many ways to give back to your community, whether it be through donating your money or time. In my own life, I give back through monetary donations, the occasional blood donation, and sometimes I still volunteer as a foster fur-parent for the Humane Society. Just recently, after beginning to work on this campaign with the American Red Cross, I signed up to be a volunteer! I just passed my background check and am waiting to do my interview to figure out where I can be of the most service. 

I signed up to be an American Red Cross volunteer for two reasons, really. One is that I was so inspired by the work they do that I felt pressed to join them! The other reason is now that I am not traveling very often, I have A LOT of free time on my hands. Angeline recently moved out on her own, so I think that volunteering will help get me out of the house and give me a very purposeful reason for doing so! I will have some activity in my life while helping others. I am super excited about it!

5 Ways to Give Back to Your Community with the Red Cross

The American Red Cross offers lots of different ways to volunteer and be a part of the organization. Did you know that 90% of the American Red Cross's "workforce" is made up of volunteers? NINETY PERCENT! 

Support the Local Red Cross Blood Team - You can work with individuals, groups and companies to recruit blood donors and promote blood drives. You can also volunteer as a greeter at blood drives and donation centers, or even volunteer as a driver to transport donations! Of course, you can also do something as simple (and not time consuming at all) as just donating blood at your local Red Cross center. You can find one near you at RedCrossBlood.org.

Help Families During Disasters - Did you know that you can provide food and shelter for families affected by major disasters such as fire, hurricanes and tornadoes? 

Assist with the Armed Forces - Did you know that you can actually volunteer at Veterans Administration offices and military hospitals? The Red Cross assists the Armed Forces with many things including relaying emergency communication to family members, distributing care, comfort and therapy items at military hospitals, and offering therapy and morale programs to veterans. 

Get The Kids Involved - There is no better way to teach young people how to be GOOD people than by having them experience helping others. The Red Cross Club has service projects in schools around the country - you can find one local to you here. There are also internship programs available, where students can gain hands-on experience in working for a non-profit by working during the summer at the headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Help with Fundraising Efforts - You may not be able to financially assist with a monetary donation, or provide shelter for a family who has been displaced by a disaster...but there are very simple ways that you can help the American Red Cross! You can volunteer to help with their fundraising efforts, or even volunteer to make phone calls to people who have given a monetary donation!

However you decide to reach out and give back to your community, I hope that you find it rewarding and enriching! Every little bit helps! You can find out more about the volunteer opportunities with the American Red Cross at RedCross.org.