You've heard us talk about Twitter before, and you probably know we're big believers in social networking and love trying out the tools made for bringing people together. But in addition to providing breaking news and making business contacts, I learned last week that Twitter can be also used for a greater community good.

In the span of just three days, a few folks tweeting in Austin, Texas, decided they should do something to help the community, and the idea for the first-ever Austin Blood Drive Tweetup was born. I signed up to donate with the first "tweet" that I read.

The blood drive was Thursday, July 3, and from what we hear from the Central Texas Blood and Tissue Center, they saw more first-time donors that day than they had in ages and the total number of donors was more than double that of a normal Thursday. Just in time for the July 4 holiday weekend.

Read more about the event, including the initial planning, from the one of the tweeting event planners, Michelle Greer.

And if you're just starting to tweet and want to follow someone who donates blood, takes pictures of her pets and loves Nashville and Austin equally, you can find me @summerh.