Charity work for the time-starved

Looking for a way to pay if forward but one more thing literally can't be squeezed into your time-starved week? Short on cash this year and won't be able to donate as much to your favourite charities as you would like?

I've got the most efficient way to build up your karma bank: donate blood.

The return on your one-hour investment is phenomenal -- one donation saves three lives. Yes, three LIVES.

One of my facebook friends sent out a plea to ask us all to consider donating. She has a special young person in her life who needs blood regularly, as well as a bone marrow transplant.

Apparently on some days there is no blood to be had. Imagine being the parent of that child? The feeling of helplessness, of desperation, must be so great. And it must also be frustrating too because really, it's so easy to give blood, that there's no excuse not to.

I hadn't give blood since 1989. And a few failed attempts after that had me turned away for low iron. It wasn't until I received this heart-felt plea from my facebook friend that I gave donating much thought.

I called the Canadian Blood Services donate phone number (1-888-236-6283) yesterday afternoon and within minutes I had an appointment to donate blood at 8pm the same day, at a local community centre no more than a 10-minute drive away.

I gave one hour of my time; I saved lives. And the best part was that it was easy, there was no physical discomfort what so ever, and the Canadian Blood Services workers and volunteers were so kind and appreciative.

It was all good. And it felt right.