Badges Blood Drive

Beavercreek Township firefighters have carved three notches on the fire ax handle in their battle for bragging rights with the Beavercreek Police Department. That makes them the favorites going into the fifth annual “Beavercreek Battle of the Badges Blood Drive” being held from 3 to 7 p.m., Monday at the Peace Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, 3530 Dayton-Xenia Road.

Everyone who registers to donate can vote for their favorite public safety team. The firefighters reclaimed the title last year by a 52-33 margin. To help decide this year’s battle, donors are encouraged to schedule an appointment online at www.DonorTime.com or call 1-800-388GIVE.

The Beavercreek Battle of the Badges Blood Drive was revived in 2014 with the help of Pat Cochran and her fellow Beavercreek Township Fire Department Auxiliary volunteers. They joined forces with Peace Lutheran Church, which hosts six blood drives a year, coordinated by Dan Jessup.

The Battle of Badges always features free “firehouse chili” and “cop shop donuts” in the Donor Café. Everyone who registers to donate will receive the Community Blood Center “We Are the Brave — We Are Blood Donors” T-shirt, and will be automatically entered in the “Build a Better Blood Supply Summer Blood Drive” drawing to win a $5,000 home improvement gift card. You must be 18 by the Sept. 1 end of the campaign to win.

“The theme of this campaign is about being ‘brave,’ ” Cochran said. “Let’s be brave together!”

Learn more at www.GivingBlood.org.