The community is invited to give blood in memory of Deputy Carl Koontz of the Howard County Sherriff’s Department, at a special American Red Cross blood drive held in his honor Tuesday, June 20, from noon to 6 p.m. at Crossroads Church in Kokomo.
On March 20, 2016, Deputy Koontz, 27, was injured in an exchange of gunfire while serving a warrant. He was rushed to the hospital in critical condition and later died of his injuries. Family and friends of Koontz invite the community to donate blood in his name.
“Hosting this blood drive in his name is a wonderful way to remember Deputy Koontz while helping other patients continue to live,” said Toni Fox, account manager for the Red Cross.
Barkers B&K will provide food at this blood drive. Donation appointments are strongly encouraged to keep wait times at a minimum.
This blood drive is one of a series of Fallen Officer blood drives held across the state of Indiana from May through August to honor local fallen officers and allow people to give blood in their name.
Every two seconds in the United States blood is needed to respond to patient emergencies, including accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and those receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease. The Red Cross must collect nearly 14,000 blood and platelet donations every day for the patients at about 2,600 hospitals nationwide.
Donate blood in memory of Deputy Koontz
Tuesday, June 20, 2017
Noon to 6 p.m.
Crossroads Church
4254 S. 00 E.W. Road, Kokomo, IN 46902
Sponsor code: “koontz”
Everyone who comes to donate now through September 4 can receive an exclusive Cedar Fair ticket offer that helps support the Red Cross, and enter to win one of two grand prize packages for four to Knott’s Berry Farm in California or Cedar Point in Ohio. Blood drive participants can go to
redcrossblood.org/cedarfair to purchase discounted tickets for gate admission and enter to win one of the two grand prize packages. For each ticket purchased through the website, Cedar Fair will donate $2 to the Red Cross to support its humanitarian mission. Terms and conditions apply and are available at
redcrossblood.org/cedarfair.
How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit
redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
Blood donors can now save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit
redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit
redcross.org or
cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at
@RedCross.
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