Lexington Fire and Police Departments Team Up for “Battle of the Badges” Blood Drive

The City of Lexington’s Fire and Police Departments are partnering with the American Red Cross for a community blood drive on Monday, December 15, as local blood supplies remain in Critical Need Status. This year’s drive brings a new twist to Lexington: a “Battle of the Badges” competition where donors vote for Team Fire or Team Police, and the department with the most votes will receive a personalized trophy and bragging rights.

The blood drive will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the J. Smith Young YMCA Event Center, 119 W. 3rd Avenue in Lexington.

Organizers hope the friendly rivalry will motivate more residents to donate during a period when the Red Cross is urgently calling for increased participation. All donors will receive a $15 Amazon gift card by email as a thank-you for supporting the effort.

One of the event coordinators—who grew up in Lexington—said they felt strongly about helping promote this initiative. “I wanted to be part of this one since it’s the first time Lexington has hosted a drive in this ‘Battle of the Badges’ format,” they shared.

Local officials emphasize that blood donations tend to drop during the winter months, making community drives especially critical. By pairing the need for donors with a bit of healthy competition between first responders, organizers hope to boost turnout and awareness.

To make an appointment, donors can scan the QR code on the event flyer, visit redcrossblood.org, or call 1-800-RED-CROSS.