Campaign honors fallen officers, raises awareness of need for blood
Throughout the month of June, the American Red Cross will participate in the statewide Fallen Officer Blood Drive Campaign. This is the fifth year the Red Cross will host blood drives across Indiana to honor fallen officers and raise awareness of the need for blood.
Janice Starnes, whose husband Sergeant Daniel Starnes was killed in the line of duty in 2001, founded the campaign and continues to organize it each year. “Most encouraging,” Starnes says, “is that the blood drives continue to grow and our officers are not forgotten thanks to the people who come to give blood in their memory.”
Last year, every county in Indiana held at least one Fallen Officer blood drive and a total of 5,000 units of blood were collected. This year, the goal is to surpass 2010 collections and honor men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
“Unfortunately, 10 new names were added to our list of Indiana fallen officers since last summer. This blood drive campaign helps ensure they are not forgotten while also raising awareness of the dangers officers face every day and the need for blood,” says Starnes.
The following Fallen Officer Blood Drive will take place in your community:
- Wednesday, June 8, from noon until 6 p.m. at Porter County Expo Center in the Banquet Room, located at 215 E. Division St. in Valparaiso. Come to donate and be entered into a region-wide drawing to win free gas for a year ($3000 gift card).
- Sunday, June 26, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Nativity of our Savior in the Fellowship Hall, located at 2949 Willowcreek Road in Portage. Come to donate and be entered into a region-wide drawing to win free gas for a year ($3000 gift card).
How to Donate Blood
To schedule an appointment to donate please call 1 -800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org for more information. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission in some states), meet weight and height requirements (110 pounds or more, depending on their height) and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. Please bring your Red Cross blood donor card or other form of positive ID when you come to donate.
About the American Red Cross
The Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region serves northern and central Indiana and northwestern Ohio, and needs to collect about 500 units of blood a day to meet patient need in more than 60 hospitals. In addition to providing blood to our community, the American Red Cross also provides relief to victims of disaster, trains millions in lifesaving skills, serves as a communication link between U.S. military members and their families, and assists victims of international disasters or conflicts.