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Iowa State Patrol to host blood drive

The local Iowa State Patrol office will be holding an inaugural blood drive next week to help increase the state’s blood supply.

The drive, which will be held Sept. 26 at the District 7 office of the Iowa State Patrol, 2437 235th St., was started by Trooper Mark Anderson, who is based in District 7, according to Lt. Mark Miller, the district’s commander.

“He came up with the idea to challenge troopers across the state to donate blood,” Miller said. “He’s a technical accident investigator, so he sees a lot of accidents and the need for a lot of blood.”

Miller said many blood banks across both Iowa and the nation report low supplies of blood.

“Between the accidents we see, and the other violent crimes, we thought it’d be a great idea (to host a blood drive),” he said.

While the Iowa State Patrol is sponsoring the blood drive, Miller said the public is invited to donate blood as well.

All they have to do is contact District 7 beforehand so they know how many people to expect.

And because this is a competition between all the State Patrol posts across Iowa, Miller said there is actually a prize for the post that has the most donations of blood.

“There is a trophy that Mark Anderson bought with his own money. A plaque,” he said. “At the end of the year, whatever district got the most blood will get this traveling plaque.”

“(Anderson) did it with all of his own money,” Miller added. “It’s that important to him.”

The blood drive will be from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the District 7 office, which is located just off U.S. Highway 20 near Coalville.

Miller said those who want to donate should call the office at 972-4213 or email Pam Crouch, District 7’s administrative assistant, at crouch@dps.state.ia.us.

District 7 includes Webster, Wright, Calhoun, Humboldt, Pocahontas, Kossuth and Hamilton counties.

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