APOA Sponsors 15th Annual Boots And Badges Blood Drive

Coffee Memorial Blood Center hosted its annual Boots and Badges Blood Drive Kick-off Party at their blood center on June 24th, 2022.  The drive started 15 years ago after the APOA sought out a local charity to partner with for a community event.  The APOA board met with then-director of marketing for Coffee Memorial, Suzanne Talley, and the 2-month blood competition between police and fire was born.  The event has grown exponentially since, and has spread across the panhandle, through Oklahoma, and into Arkansas.  The drive helps fill the gap in the tough summer months where donations go down, but the need for blood goes up.  APOA board members work in the months leading up to the event to secure emergency vehicles, permits, and volunteers.  The association members vote to purchase the food and volunteers from the APOA ranks cook hamburgers and hot dogs for donors and their families.  This year, Coffee Memorial drew 508 units of blood - second most all-time for the yearly event.  This has become a huge event and a way for local law enforcement to show their appreciation to our community.  In 2021, law enforcement won the donor vote between LE and Fire for the second time.  We hope to do it again thanks to awesome support from our neighbors.  Thanks for stepping it APOA...and go Badges!