1. Give blood. Making a blood donation only takes about an hour, but can save up to three lives. To find out about clinics in your area, visit www.blood.ca or call 1-888-2-DONATE.
2. Become an organ donor. Discover how you can become an organ donor in your province by visiting The Organ Donation and Transplant Association of Canada at www.organdonations.ca. You can print a donation card from their site. Tip: It's important to make your family aware of your decision so they will honour your commitment.
3. Donate your locks to cancer patients. If your hair is more than 25 centimetres long and has not been chemically treated, you could donate it to Angel Hair for Kids, a program run by A Child's Voice Foundation that provides wigs to disadvantaged children who have lost their hair for medical reasons. Visit www.achildsvoicefoundation.ca.
4. Give away your old glasses. Hakim Optical has partnered with Lions Clubs International to provide glasses to people in developing countries. You can drop off your old glasses at any Hakim Optical location. Learn more at www.hakimoptical.ca.
5. Volunteer at your local hospital. Most hospitals now offer a variety of volunteer positions, which you can apply for through the hospital's website. Most require a half-day of your time per week, and ask you to commit for a full year.
6. Write a cheque. Donate to a national health organization (such as the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Canadian Cancer Society or the Canadian Diabetes Association) and help raise funds and awareness.
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