Night to Unite, Heroes Behind the Badges right around the corner

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WORTHINGTON — With a new menu, a new look and some new displays, this year’s Night to Unite should be an exciting and informational evening.

The event takes place at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Pioneer Village. This year, the Heroes Behind the Badges blood drive will also be at Pioneer Village from 3 to 7 p.m. in conjunction with the Night to Unite.

Night to Unite is observed annually all over the state on the first Tuesday in August, providing citizens and public safety personnel the opportunity to join together.

“We’re having more public events and more displays,” said Worthington Police Officer Kirk Schelhaas.

The Emergency Response Unit (ERU) will be on display, as will the Sanford Health helicopter and the Department of Natural Resources boat and water unit. The Southwest Crisis Center will have a display and the Worthington Fire Department will also be on hand.

The Great Plains Petting Zoo will be there with all sorts of critters, and the Nobles County Cattlemen will serve burgers, chips and soft drinks.

Night to Unite is also sponsored by the Minnesota Crime Prevention Association, AAA of Minnesota/Iowa, Fareway, Walmart, Hy-Vee, W2 Meats and the Worthington Police Department.

The event is free and open to the public.

“Night to Unite is about neighbors joining together and working with law enforcement,” Schelhaas explained. “It is an imperative part of the equation for us to be effective as law enforcement.”

Having the community support its local police is beneficial to everyone, he said, because that means more eyes on the streets.

The public’s help can make authorities more effective and more efficient. In the past, the annual Night to Unite event has brought people in to observe demonstrations and meet various law enforcement officers and officials.

The Heroes Behind the Badges blood drive, which began in 2006, pits cops against firefighters and EMTs in an effort to see who can recruit the most blood donors.

The friendly competition will take place this year from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Sanford Medical Center and from 3 to 7 p.m. at Pioneer Village. The public is encouraged to donate and designate their donation to the department of their choice. All donors will receive a free T-shirt, and the department credited with the most blood donations will receive a trophy and a year’s worth of bragging rights.

“The summer’s blood supply has been challenged with several traumas throughout the summer and a decrease of donations by 25 percent. The success of this blood drive will ensure that blood is available for patients of Sanford Worthington,” said Ken Versteeg, executive director of the Community Blood Bank. “We truly need people to donate blood at this blood drive to help keep the blood supply at adequate levels to be used for trauma, surgery, burn and cancer patients. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve Worthington area patients and encourage the community to help us by donating on the bloodmobile when it visits Worthington on Tuesday, August 7.”

Donors must be 17 years of age or older (16 years old with a signed parent consent form found at www.cbblifeblood.org), weigh 110 pounds. or more and be in good general health the day of the blood drive. Please bring identification. It is recommended to eat and drink plenty of fluids before donating blood. Community Blood Bank is the sole blood provider for Sanford Worthington and 28 other local hospitals.

For more information or to make an appointment, call 372-3319. Walk-ins are welcome.

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