SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) – Emergencies don’t wait, hospitals need blood donations year around. The holiday season means it is time for the friendly rivalry to begin anew.
Tuesday, Sioux Falls Fire Rescue and the Sioux Falls Police Department will kick off their 22nd annual blood drive competition. The friendly competition will run until January 5, 2018. The public is encouraged to come into either Sanford Medical Center (333-6444) or Avera McKennan Hospital (322-7111) donor rooms and designate their blood donation to the department of their choice.
Donors can choose a specially designed “Police” or “Fire” T-shirt for donating blood at the donor rooms (while supplies last) and a $5 certificate to Texas Roadhouse (compliments of Texas Roadhouse).
The public can also donate at various blood drive locations hosted by both departments with the kick-off event at the Original Pancake House and Camille’s Sidewalk Café on Tuesday, December 26:
· Donate in honor of the Sioux Falls Police Department at Camille’s Sidewalk Café (41st Street and Grange Avenue) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and receive a free lunch and a T‑shirt designed by the Sioux Falls Police Department.
· Donate in honor of Sioux Falls Fire Rescue at The Original Pancake House (41st Street and Kiwanis Avenue) from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and receive a stack of Original Pancake House’s special buttermilk pancakes and a T-shirt designed by Sioux Falls Fire Rescue.
The department with the most donations will contribute $700 to the charity of their choice. Second place will donate $300 compliments of Citibank and Farmer’s Insurance Rod Goeman Agency.
“Each year this event has helped hundreds of patients in our community at a time when blood is needed the most,” states Ken Versteeg, Executive Director, Community Blood Bank.
Help your Sioux Falls Police and Fire Departments help the community by donating blood this season. For more information and a complete blood drive schedule for Heroes Behind the Badges, go to www.cbblifeblood.org or call 605-331-3222.