After a gay employee was turned away, Twitter took action.

Instead of donating whole blood today, would you like to donate double red blood cells instead? It's just as safe." With those words, he introduced my new favorite indulgence. Some people need acupuncture, TV or a massage to unwind. These pursuits have their plusses, but for complete pampering, there's nothing like donating blood.

During times of national and international disasters, people donate. But most don't realize that it's the day-to-day needs of transfusion patients that takes up the majority of blood needs.

You don't need a special reason to give blood; you just need your own reason. Some of us give blood because we were asked by a friend. Some know that a family member or a friend might need blood some day. Some believe it is the right thing we do.