McLennan County Sheriff’s Office aims to repeat win over police, fire departments in community-wide blood drives with Carter BloodCare
WACO, Texas (August 15, 2017) – When law enforcement agencies engage in fun competition, the community joins in, too. Battle of the Badges is a friendly challenge to increase awareness that blood donors are in short supply right now. The Waco Fire and Police departments and the McLennan County Sheriff’s Office are hosting the 13-day Battle of the Badges blood drive from August 19 – 31. (Times, dates and locations are listed separately below.) When a participant gives blood, they are invited to “vote” by donating on behalf of their favorite “badge.” The participating law enforcement agencies are also giving each blood donor a special Battle of the Badges T-shirt while supplies last. The first responder group who receives the most “votes” wins a traveling trophy.
Reigning 2016 winner, McLennan County Sheriff’s Office, aims to again prevail over other area “badges” participating. Last year’s competition was close: Sheriff’s department came in with 109 blood donation “votes,” with Waco PD only four votes behind at 105. Waco FD came in third place at 64.
In addition to receiving a traveling trophy, the winning department (which received highest number of “votes” from blood donors) earns bragging rights for the year. For more information or to schedule an appointment time, contact Vickie Carpenter at (254) 855-2578.
Waco Battle of the Badges donation event sites are listed below:
Firehouse Subs
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, August 19
4215 Franklin on the Carter BloodCare bus
Appointments, Sherry Russell-Titus, (254) 732-3715
Waco Association of Realtors, Inc.
8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, August 21
2025 N. 44th in the board office
Appointments, Jackie Fatten (254) 749-6508
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center
7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, August 22
100 Hillcrest Medical Boulevard in the Joel Allison Auditorium
Appointments, Danielle Manalo, (254) 202-4805
Atmos Energy
8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, August 24
1400 W. Loop 340 in the meeting/conference room
Appointments, Liz Gersch (254) 224-4416
US Courthouse
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, August 25
800 Franklin Avenue in the jury assembly room
Appointments, Melissa Copp, (254) 750-1501
Waco-McLennan County Public Health District
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, August 25
225 W. Waco Drive on the Carter BloodCare bus
Appointments, Janet Jones (254) 750-5841
McLennan County Sheriff’s Office – two opportunities to give
6 a.m. to 11 a.m. Tuesday, August 29 and 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, August 30
3201 E. State Highway 6 on the Carter BloodCare bus
Appointments, Mike Garrett (254) 757-2555, ext. 3245
Waco Fire Department – two opportunities to give
7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wednesday, August 30 and 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Thursday, August 31
7600 Imperial on the Carter BloodCare bus
Appointments, Phillip Burnett (254) 640-8440
Waco Police Department – two opportunities to give
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, August 26 and
6 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, August 31
3115 Pine Avenue in the SWAT room
Appointments, Vern Darlington, (254) 498-3241
Tatex
1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, August 31
3800 Gholson Road on the Carter BloodCare bus
Appointments, Julie Bullard (254) 799-4911, ext. 204
Eligible blood donors can give whole blood every 56 days. They can give other types of blood donations more frequently. Make an appointment to give at a Carter BloodCare donor center near you, or donate at a local community blood drive. Carter BloodCare urges eligible blood donors to consider giving two to three times a year, if possible.
Remember to eat a nutritious meal and drink plenty of water one to two hours before giving blood. All donors must weigh at least 110 pounds, feel well on the day of donation, and present a government-issued photo ID each time they give blood.
Potential blood donors may volunteer beginning at age 16 with parental consent; 17-year-olds may give independently and there is no upper age limit for donating blood. For more information on donor eligibility and to make an appointment, call 1-800-366-2834 or visit carterbloodcare.org.
About Carter BloodCare
Carter BloodCare is a community based, non-profit blood center that provides life-saving transfusion resources to more than 200 medical facilities in 50-plus counties of north, central and east Texas. The 501(c)(3) organization is one of the largest blood programs in Texas, delivering more than 300,000 blood products annually to meet patients’ treatment requirements. Carter BloodCare’s services include collection, processing, specialized laboratory testing, storage and distribution of blood and blood products. The center is accredited by the AABB, including a laboratory with accreditation for molecular testing of red cell antigens. It is licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and is a member of America’s Blood Centers.
Contact(s):
Director of Public Relations
Email: Lgoelzer@carterbloodcare.org
Phone: (817) 412-5314