Residents will have an opportunity to help replenish area blood supplies while supporting a friendly competition between local first responders during the annual Cuffs & Hoses Blood Drive on Wednesday, June 17.
The event, sponsored by the City of Minden Police and Fire departments in partnership with LifeShare Blood Center, will be held from 11 AM to 4 PM at the Minden Civic Center, 520 Broadway Street.
The annual Cuffs & Hoses campaign pits firefighters and police officers against one another in a friendly rivalry to encourage blood donations. Organizers are urging community members to participate as blood inventories often decline during the summer months while hospital demand remains steady.
“This is a good time to donate to assist during the summer months when the local blood banks typically start to run low,” said Brian Williams, director of the Webster Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.
This year’s event carries a 1960s-inspired theme, “Giving is Groovy,” encouraging donors to “channel your inner Woodstock spirit — peace, love, and a pint of blood.”
According to promotional materials for the drive, summer travel, festivals, and holiday activities can contribute to lower donation numbers at a time when hospitals continue to rely on a steady blood supply for patients in need.
“Before you hit the road for festivals and freedom, take a moment to groove with a cause that saves lives,” the flyer states. “It’s the ultimate act of harmony: giving life, man, one drop at a time.”
Donors who participate will receive a special-edition LifeShare “groovy” T-shirt while supplies last.
Blood donations collected during the drive will help support patients throughout the region who depend on lifesaving transfusions for surgeries, trauma care, cancer treatments, and other medical needs.
For more information about the June 17 blood drive, contact the City of Minden Police or Fire departments or LifeShare Blood Center.
