The belt belongs to the fire department, but the title goes to all who donated blood and those who will receive it in the city’s first Battle of the Badges American Red Cross drive.
And it’s something the Roanoke Rapids Fire Department wants to do again. “I feel certain both agencies will work together. I think the guys had a good time with it. I know Shane and I did,” Chief Jason Patrick said of police Chief Shane Guyant.
“I have no idea what the relationship with the fire department and police department were before July of ‘23,” Guyant said. “One of the things I feel Jason and I tried to do is foster a very brotherly type of relationship. We want our officers and our firemen to know we’re here for each other. I think we’ve done a really good job in having that camaraderie and then you have this event and there’s no better way to strengthen a relationship then having some self-deprecating humor. We had fun poking fun at each other. I think it was well-received by the public. I don’t think they took anything from it other than it was a way for us to encourage people to attend this event.”
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It worked, Guyant said.
There were 177 who came out to the two-day event last week and out of those there were 147 donations, which shattered a February record of 77 donations.
On day one the goal was 80 donors. “We had 125 show up but we only collected from 105,” Guyant said. “Most impressive is that 28 of that 125 were first time donors.”
On Day two there was a goal of 30 donors and 46 registered. They collected from 42. “We feel ecstatic because it really shows the strength in the community when it comes to showing and doing what’s right for others,” Guyant said.
And, Patrick said, it shows the support the community gives both agencies “with what we’re doing. We’ve always gotten really good support from other fundraisers, but this is something that’s going to give back to those that need this blood. It’s saving a life.”
For every pint donated, three people benefit from the blood, Patrick said, so with the Battle of the Badges drive 441 people benefited, Guyant said. “We’d be remiss with all that’s going on in the western part of the state and the southeastern part of the United States, there was already a major shortage of blood in our area. This was a really good shot in the arm. For a really small community to do something like that, it’s pretty impressive to me.”
Some people can’t give money or time, the police chief said, “but they daggone sure could give blood and they did.”
Both Guyant and Patrick heaped praises upon the American Red Cross staff. “These men and women were on their feet the whole time. They were going back and forth making sure everybody’s giving like they’re supposed to, making sure everything’s hooked up right, that people are healthy and they don’t look like they’re about to pass out. They don’t live here. They have to drive here.”
The drive was so busy that Red Cross workers ran out of cards to slide in the sleeves of the blood packs. “Lynch’s donated some cards for them,” Patrick said.
Then there were volunteers like April Lynch and Tammy Colston, Guyant said. “April did most of the social media, designs, and fliers. She gathered all the swag bags and Tammy was there with April on both days. They volunteered their time to check people in and to make sure everybody got registered. Talk about what Jason and I did, we didn’t do nothing compared to what the American Red Cross did and Tammy and April did.”
For Guyant and Patrick, the drive changed their perspectives about giving.
“I’m definitely going to do my part to make sure I continue to give every 56 days,” Guyant said. “I’m going to be one of those hopefully that are in the gallon club.”
Patrick said in the past he hasn’t given a lot, the Battle of Badges being his third time. “I’ve had this mental block of giving blood and seeing my own blood. Over time, I’ve gotten better with it but by doing this I’m kind of like Chief Guyant, I think I’m going to try to give every time I can at this point to make sure I do my part.”
Asked if it stung to be beaten by the fire department, Guyant said, “Of course it does. I don’t like to lose. Everybody loves firemen. Firemen don’t make people mad like the police do. We still get a lot of support from the community. They both really and truly are proud of both departments and they’re proud we did something like this for them and for others.”
Said Guyant: “It just shows the commitment that the police and fire department have to doing everything we can to serve our community in whatever capacity that may be.”
Patrick said, “Yeah, we had this little thing going on between the two departments but the real winners are the people that need this blood and are going to receive this blood.”