RAPID CITY, S.D. — A longtime Rapid City blood donation tradition is getting a new look this summer as the annual Guns and Hoses Blood Drive transitions to a new format focused on community partnership rather than competition.

Officials with the Rapid City Police Department and Rapid City Fire Department announced the event has been renamed “Red, Blue and You,” emphasizing the collaborative relationship between police, firefighters and the community.

The three-day blood drive will be held June 23-25 at Uptown Rapid, formerly Rushmore Mall, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. Donation stations will be located in the central skylight area near Bath & Body Works.

Rapid City Fire Department Public Information Officer Tessa Jaeger said the change comes after two decades of friendly competition between police and fire personnel. She said the new format reflects how both agencies work together every day and highlights the important role community members play in maintaining an adequate blood supply.

While the competition between departments has ended, organizers said the mission remains the same: encouraging as many people as possible to donate blood. Jaeger noted previous drives were often decided by only a handful of donors and said organizers hope to set a record for participation this year.

Rapid City Police Department Public Information Officer Brendyn Medina said the event is intentionally scheduled during the summer months, when blood donations typically decline as people travel and participate in seasonal activities. He said the need for blood remains constant throughout the year, making summer drives especially important for maintaining local supplies.

Organizers said all blood types are welcome, although type O donors are particularly needed. Participants will receive a commemorative T-shirt and be eligible for door prizes. Vitalant will also provide refreshments and food for donors during the event.

Appointments can be scheduled in advance through Vitalant at vitalant.org/redblueyou, although walk-in donors will also be accepted.

In addition to discussing the upcoming blood drive, police officials highlighted ongoing community engagement efforts in Star Village, where law enforcement, neighborhood residents, local churches and community partners have worked together to address crime concerns.

Medina said recent improvements include the installation of additional permanent lighting throughout the neighborhood, including streetlights and lighting in common areas. The upgrades were celebrated during the recent “Light Up the Night” event, which featured a community parade with children carrying glow sticks and decorating bicycles with lights.

Officials said the improvements are part of a long-term effort to strengthen neighborhood safety through both proactive policing and community involvement. Medina said the goal is to help residents take ownership of their neighborhood and demonstrate that crime should never be accepted as normal.

The Rapid City Fire Department has also participated in neighborhood outreach efforts through the “It Takes a Village Tuesday” program. During a recent event, firefighters hosted a fire safety obstacle course that teaches children how to safely escape a house fire by staying low beneath smoke, identifying exits and practicing emergency procedures.

Organizers encouraged residents to participate in the upcoming blood drive, noting that a single donation can help save lives throughout the region.