Photo: CreateHER Stock

With MLK National Day of Service just two weeks away, now is the perfect time to start thinking about ways to give back to the sickle cell community this month and throughout the year. One way, is to take part in National Blood Donor Month, but if you're wary of needles or just don't fit the requirements to give blood, you'll be glad to know that January is also National Mentoring Month.

If you're a college student living in or near a major city like Boston, Chicago, NYC, or Washington, DC, consider becoming a mentor to teens with sickle cell by joining Next Step. Through this group, you'd be able to directly connect one-on-one with your mentee and be a support to them. Options for adult mentors are also available via other organizations, such as virtual mentor programs like this one run by The Sickle Cell Foundation of Tennessee. Although this particular program is specifically seeking adult mentors who live with SCD themselves, even if you aren't a warrior personally, you could think about starting a similar program of virtual mentorship in your own community.

Searching for even more ways to serve #SickleCellNation? Head to volunteermatch.org, choose your location, and then, type "sickle cell" into the search bar. Whether you decide to join an established company or do your own thing altogether this month, don't forget to register your plans with MLK Day of Service, so you can share your goals and find others who are interested in joining you.
 
What are your plans for giving back this month? Tell us in the comments below!