Robert McKeithen Memorial Blood Drive

Would you like to be a part of something bigger than yourself while honoring the memory of Biloxi Police Officer Robert McKeithen? You can do just that at the first-ever Robert McKeithen Memorial Blood Drive in Biloxi tomorrow.

On Tuesday you can back the blue, honor a long-time Biloxi police officer’s memory, and possibly save a life all at once. Just head on over to the Biloxi Visitor’s Center across from the Lighthouse on Porter Avenue any time Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. for a blood drive held in honor of Officer Robert McKeithen who lost his life back in May of 2019 when he was attacked in the parking lot of the Biloxi Police Station Headquarters. Vitalant Donor Recruitment Representative John Pace said, “I’ve grown very close to his widow, Ms. Pamela. We’ve talked and shared. She thinks he would be very proud of this. Everybody I’ve talked to and met say this is the very thing he would be pleased with.”

Pace is hoping for at least 100 donors. “It was a sick day back in March when I watched 65-percent of my drives die in one day.  Our drives are connected to your churches, houses of worship, schools, social activities, to all the things that aren’t happening anymore. Finding blood has been very difficult. We are in critical need of blood.”

Of course, COVID precautions will be taken. “We have to address that we live in a new age-a pandemic, and you already have to donate blood in a sterile environment, so the sanitizing and all that is already in place. Social distancing is in place. We keep people in their chair. They wait their time until it’s their time to leave. Masks are required for all donors, all volunteers and all staff.”

The entire process takes about 30 minutes, but you can fast track it by pre-registering online. All donors will get a shirt plus much more. “Make an appointment at bloodhero.com. We’ll feed you some good pizza and drinks from Coca-Cola, and this cool shirt I designed.”