I try to donate blood regularly but don’t always remember. Last week, however, I had some extra time and made an appointment at the OneBlood donation center down the street from me. I just felt the urge to do some good that day, and it helped that they were offering $50 in reward gift cards too! At the risk of sounding like a restaurant review, the donation center felt very welcoming. The phlebotomist was really friendly, and we talked about everything from where we were from to raising kids. Donating blood is usually a pretty solitary, quiet activity, but this felt like meeting a new friend. Just another example of how you can feel welcome in unexpected places when people go out of their way to welcome you.
Emily Raij 