Sacramento, California – Sacramento’s public safety workers are putting a different kind of call on the calendar this week. Not a fire call. Not a police call. A community call.
The “Battle of the Badges” Blood Drive will bring the Sacramento Fire and Police departments together Thursday, July 9, 2026, for a five-hour donation event at the City of Sacramento Public Safety Center Hall of Honor, located at 5770 Freeport Blvd. The message is direct: “Respond to the call. Give blood.”
The event is scheduled from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., giving residents a chance to take part in a local effort tied to the American Red Cross. Donors are asked to make an appointment in advance by visiting https://www.RedCrossBlood.org and entering the code “SacBOTB” to find the Sacramento Battle of the Badges drive.
The location adds meaning to the day. The Public Safety Center Hall of Honor is already connected to service, duty and the people who respond when the city needs help. On Thursday, that same space will be used for another form of public service, one that depends not on uniforms or sirens, but on residents showing up and giving blood.
The drive also falls during a special American Red Cross promotion. People who come to give blood from June 29 through July 12 can receive a classic American Red Cross x Looney Tunes T-shirt, while supplies last. The offer adds a light touch to a serious need, but organizers are keeping the focus on participation and appointments.
Anyone planning to donate should bring identification, which is required. Those who are unsure whether they are eligible to give blood can call 1-866-236-3276 for eligibility questions before arriving.
Residents can also learn more or schedule through https://www.redcrossblood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS or 1-800-733-2767, or use the Blood Donor App.
For Sacramento, the event is simple but important. Firefighters and police officers may be leading the invitation, but the success of the blood drive will depend on the wider community. For a few minutes of time, donors can answer a call that may matter long after Thursday afternoon ends.