If Father’s Day snuck up on you this year, or you’re looking to save some cash, we’ve rounded up our top free and fairly easy ideas for Father’s Day, 2015.
IDEAS FOR DAD
- Download our apps for his phone to stay safe and connected. Steal his phone (temporarily!) to help him access a wealth of information. Download our First Aid app for all his injury and emergency needs, from burns and cuts to helping someone who is unconscious. Next, download the Red Cross Emergency App, with tons of info about preparing for and recovering from severe weather, including alerts so he knows when danger is heading his way. Check out the rest of our apps on redcross.org.
- Donate blood in his name. You can help save up to three lives when you donate one pint of blood through the American Red Cross. Head to our SleevesUp page to set up your donation (and even get others involved!) in honor of your dad. Blood donors are especially needed over the summer – when donations typically decline – to help maintain the blood supply and prevent a shortage. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in most states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood.
- Take fire safety off his task list (for now). Dad probably has a lot to do around the house, so why not help out? Forget coupons for doing dishes! Try testing all the smoke alarms in your home, changing batteries if needed and mapping out a fire escape plan so your bases are covered. Tuck a checklist with everything you did into his card, then lead your family through your 2 minute fire escape drill.
- Volunteer together. Does your dad like experiences more than gifts? Find and set up volunteer opportunities through your local Red Cross chapter for some quality time together, and to lend a hand in your community. Volunteers constitute about 90 percent of the Red Cross workforce, and there are plenty of ways to help out.
- Take care of dinner with Red Cross cooking safety tips. Prove to dad you can whip up a yummy meal AND not start a fire! Consult our cooking safety tips, and wow your dad with your culinary and safety prowess.
THE RED CROSS AND NEW DADS
On a related note, check out these touching stories from new dads, shared with the Red Cross.
One Red Cross blood donor shares the reason he donates blood:
“27 years ago my youngest son, Henry was born. Ten weeks early and only three pounds at birth, Henry had a very rough time and was incubation for 13 days (his weight dropped down to 1.5 pounds). He needed blood and I went to the Red Cross and started giving blood on the day of his birth. I have been giving blood for quite some time now. […] By the way young Henry is a strapping healthy young man who has overcome a lot of challenges due to his premature birth but has a college degree in Geology. Thanks to the American Red Cross for all they do with blood donations, help with disasters, and the help to the military!”
We’ve even helped bring new dads home for their child’s birth:
Father’s Day is Sunday, June 21. Grow your AmazonSmile donation potential by encouraging your supporters to shop at http://smile.amazon.com/ch/53-0196605 in support of American Red Cross.