Remember to include the American Red Cross on your to do list

Children running here and there, vacations, barbecues, and daily work to pay the bills all mark challenges that Ashe families face today.

So where is the time to do things like donate blood?

For all of us, giving in that way to the American Red Cross is just another in the long list of things grabbing at our time, but it is critical for us to make time to give a pint.

It is critical because of the same things listed.

Unfortunately, the truth is that vacation travel, daily work, barbecues and children running here and there on summertime schedules often end in accidents that require the gift of life -- blood.

It is a fact of life for the folks at the Red Cross that demand is up and supplies of blood are down during the summer.

Giving blood is not an endless time consumer, but, as anything worthwhile, it does require some commitment of time and energy.

There is the time and energy required to work through a checklist required to screen for potential problems with blood supply and safety of the giver.

Giving blood sometimes requires waiting in line for the people who have come earlier. There is a brief recovery time.

Some of these concerns become less as you give on a regular basis. The time and energy required to work through the screening is less daunting if done regularly.

There may be more people out there than you think, giving on a regular basis.

We have met a few people who are working toward a goal of giving gallons.

They often do it because of a lifesaving experience in their lives either for them personally or a loved one. When you stand in an emergency room and see first-hand the need for the one thing that will save a life, it makes an impact.

Those working toward multiple gallon donations give regularly generally, every time they physically can.

What ever way you can give, we encourage you to do so. It is something only you can do.