At a meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission, an unidentified speaker promoted upcoming community blood drives at Patterson Park and at Sportscom and said organizers framed one event as a 9/11 remembrance that encourages first responders to participate. “We wanna encourage everyone to come out to the blood drive here at Patterson Park,” the speaker said, noting the communitywide drives run throughout the year.

The speaker told attendees the drive is “particularly special because it's geared around the 9/11” anniversary and urged firefighters, police officers and other first responders to donate as a way to observe the day and help local blood supplies.

A second speaker, identified only in the transcript as another unidentified meeting participant, offered a personal account to underscore the need for donations. The speaker said they were ineligible to give blood after undergoing chemotherapy and recounted being diagnosed at age 19 with acute myeloid leukemia. They said they spent three months in Vanderbilt Hospital and received 14 blood transfusions. “Without those blood transfusions, I wouldn't be here,” the speaker said, and added, “if you're able to, you can save somebody's life by giving blood.”

Commission discussion on the agenda centered on promoting the drives and community participation; no formal motions or votes were recorded on this item during the meeting. Organizers reiterated that blood drives are held throughout the year and framed the 9/11–timed events as a civic remembrance that also addresses ongoing community health needs.

The meeting proceeded to other agenda items after the appeals to donate; no formal action pertaining to the blood drives was recorded in the transcript.