Be A Hero! Give Blood!

It's been almost three months since the World Trade Center was destroyed, but we're all still feeling the effects. The American Red Cross still needs blood, volunteers, and donations. But so do a lot of other organizations as well. If you want to be a hero, there are still plenty of opportunites out there. This holiday season, consider donating toys to underpriveledge children, volunteer to help serve food to the homeless, or give money to the charity of your choice. Do whatever you can to be a hero.

12 September, 2001

At 10:30 am yesterday morning, I got a phone call from my sister in New York. She was upset, and kept asking, "Are you all right?! Are you all right?" I had no idea why she was upset. I told her my husband and I were fine, then asked her what was wrong. For a few minutes, she couldn't speak. Then she told me what had happened.

"Someone highjacked four planes! They ran two into the World Trade Center and destroyed it, and another plane was crashed into the Pentagon! They don't know where the fourth one is! I'm afraid it may be headed your way!"

I immediately turned on the TV. We have 57 cable channels. Every single one of them showed the same images. The Twin Towers in ruins. The Pentagon in flames. Like millions of Americans, I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

The fourth plane was not headed in our direction, but I could understand my sister's fear. She works near where the Twin Towers used to stand. She got an up-close and personal view of what happened. Some of her friends work right next to the Trade Center, and several of my closest friends, including cast members of Xena Warrior Milkmaid and Luna-C Productions, work in the DC area. My in-laws live in inner city DC. I spent the rest of the day waiting, watching, and praying. One by one, friends and family contacted us to let us know they were okay. I was relieved to know they were unharmed. But I was also sickened by what had happened.

I have never felt so helpless - and so useless - in my entire life. Thousands of people might be dead, and it seemed like all I could do was watch and wait. After the first few hours, my husband and I began trying to find out if there was anyway we could help. As it turns out, there is.

The American Red Cross needs blood, volunteers, and donations. Other disaster relief organizations are looking for help as well. My husband and I have already made financial donations to the Red Cross and Catholic Charities USA. Tomorrow we plan to go to our local blood drive and sign up for disaster relief training with the Red Cross. We urge others to do the same.

Please, give blood! If you can, give a financial donation or a donation of food and clothing to your local disaster relief organization as well. If at all possible, donate your time and services, too. One of the great things about fandom, whether it be for Xena or Star Trek or any other show, is that the fans want to emulate their heroes. Well, here's your chance. Disaster has struck. People need your help. Be a hero today!

Helping.org has set up a secure online page to take credit card donations for the American Red Cross, Catholic Charities USA, and The National Organization for Victim Assistance.

You can also contact the American Red Cross by calling 1-800-HELP-NOW (1-800-435-7669). Their website address is www.redcross.org. If you cannot get through to the webpage (it seems to be overloaded with hits right now), please call them!

I urge people to help however they can. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of this terrible tragedy and to their families.

Helen Madden