By Laura Basta, American Red Cross Volunteer

Have you ever dreamed of being a superhero? Or saving someone’s life? You might be thinking to yourself, “I’m nobody special. How could I accomplish such a thing? I don’t have any superpowers.” Oh, but you do!

That is why I love the Red Cross. You can be a superhero! You can save someone’s life! You. Yes, you!

Every time you donate blood, you are a superhero. You saved someone’s life. Think about that. There may not be a newspaper article or segment on the evening news, but the result is the same: Someone’s loved one is still here because of the action you took. You didn’t need a superpower. You didn’t need a lot of money. You didn’t even need a lot of time, but the impact you made meant everything to someone in your community.

Can’t donate blood? That’s OK. You can still be a superhero because the Red Cross serves in so many areas. Maybe a neighbor experienced a home fire. Maybe a close friend or relative lost everything in a natural disaster. I am truly blessed that I cannot share a personal story, but I witness those stories almost every day. Who will be there to be a beacon of hope? Who, through a strong network of volunteers, donors and partners, will be there in times of need? The answer is the Red Cross. The answer is you!

From helping during disasters and ensuring access to lifesaving blood, to providing training to save lives and supporting military communities, the Red Cross is there when help can’t wait — and anyone can be part of that team! You can be a superhero! Please consider getting involved.