SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - The annual Heroes Behind the Badges blood drive delivered close to 1,100 donations, the second largest total in the event's 21 years.
Ken Versteeg with the Community Blood Bank says the donations will help over 3,200 patients at Avera and Sanford Hospitals.
Versteeg says the special blood drive is held around the holidays because donations tend to drop off. He says donors are traveling, are too busy and some forget to donate. He says this is also the time of the year when a lot of organizations take a break from hosting blood drives.
Sioux Falls Fire Rescue won the friendly competition with Sioux Falls Police, 570 to 511 donations.
Versteeg says Texas Roadhouse holds a luncheon at the end of the month and the Police "will graciously hand over" the traveling trophy to Fire Rescue.
Each department has a charity of choice that benefits too. Fire Rescue has "Children's Home Society" and they get a $700 check compliments of Farmer's Insurance, Rod Goeman Agency. For the Police, Special Olympics receives a $300 check courtesy of Citibank.