What makes a hero? Is a hero the man who rushes to the aid of someone in trouble? Is a hero the woman who helps a child learn to read? Is a hero someone who helps the less privileged among us or someone who looks for a better future for the next generation?

On Thursday, The American Red Cross of Central Midwest Georgia recognized ten hometown heroes for their contributions to Troup County. This year’s hometown heroes were Debbie Burdette, Congressman Drew Ferguson, Wanda Jennings, Harriett Langford, Ryan Loubet, Marshall McCoy, Garrett Pressley, Norma Tucker, Mike Wilson and J. Nichelle Wimbush.

These men and women have made significant contributions to the community, and in doing so they challenge us to follow their example.

The variety of ways these individuals serve reveals something important about our local heroes — they each make a difference by doing something that they are personally passionate about.

There are many different ways to make a positive difference where you live, but you are more likely to stick with it and make a difference long term if you aim to make a change that you are personally passionate about. Is it any surprise that a retired school teacher is passionate about literacy? Or that the daughter of an industry leader in green technology is passionate about green technology? Or even that these officers that were recognized care deeply about the community that they have pledged to protect and serve so that their work follows them outside the uniform?

This raises another question though. What are you passionate about? What is it that you want to see change so much that you would be willing to spend the countless hours working to make it possible?

Now not everybody has the time or the resources to make the dramatic impact that some of these individuals have made, but everyone can do something.

What will you do?