hnews_0109_Blue_Blood_Drive
Donovan Judkins of Richmond pauses to look at a display of officers fallen in the line of duty, including state trooper Christopher Lambert, McHenry County Sheriffs Deputy Jacob Keltner, state trooper Gerald Ellis, state trooper Brooke Jones-Story, Fulton County Deputy Troy Chisum, state trooper Nicholas Hopkins, and McHenry County K-9 Sage, during a blood drive in Deputy Jake Keltner's name at D'Andrea Banquets & Conference on National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020 in Crystal Lake. Becki Keltner partnered with the American Red Cross and Concerns of Police Survivors to create the "Jake Keltner Memorial Blue Blood Drive" in her husband's honor. The drive had about 310 registered donors scheduled to give blood, which should easily surpass their 210 pint goal, helping around 630 patients. "This drive is significant not only locally," said American Red Cross Regional Donor Services Executive Sonja Juric, "but will also help the national inventory," going on to add that local hospitals have priority. The current blood supply for O negative is in dire need, with a three day supply left according to Juric.