Lasco top cop spearheads blood drive
REIGNING Lasco/Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) Police Officer of the Year, Detective Sergeant Ava Lindo, will culminate her active year as top cop by spearheading a blood drive dubbed a ‘Drop of Love’ at the Police Officers’ Club on March 11.
“I have a rare blood type, so I know the importance of giving blood,” said Lindo. “Plus, I recognise the acute shortage of blood currently faced by the Blood Bank (National Blood Transfusion Service Jamaica) and wanted to give back.”
The drive aims to collect 500 units from across the island at ‘Drop of Love’ locations — the Cornwall Regional Hospital in St James, the St Ann’s Bay Hospital in St Ann, Port Antonio Hospital in Portland, and Mandeville Regional Hospital in Manchester.
“Detective Sergeant Ava Lindo has been a remarkable ambassador during her tenure as the LASCO/JCF Police Officer of the Year,” revealed Lasco Brand Manager Renee Rose. “She has demonstrated leadership and compassion, even as she sought new and creative avenues to improve her community, and by extension the lives of Jamaicans. There is no doubt that she’ll give her all to ensure that this blood drive is a success for the National Blood Bank.”
The units collected through the ‘Drop of Love’ blood drive will increase the donor pool and boost the assistance given to hospitals and health centres served by the Blood Bank.
The drive will be also supported by fellow Lasco ambassadors — Lasco/Nurses’ Association of Jamaica Nurse of the Year Treveen Palmer; Lasco/Ministry Of Education (MOE) Principal of the Year Kandi-Lee Crooks-Smith; and Donna Reid, runner-up for Lasco/MOE Teacher of the Year 2015/2016.
The drive will follow the 2016-2017 Police Officer of the Year Week of Activities, scheduled for March 6-10, 2016. This year’s finalist will participate in a Community Project Day on March 7 with a peace march and football competition. The march will start at the Kingston YMCA and end at the JCF Community Safety and Security Branch on Ruthven Road.
On March 8, Police Commissioner Dr Karl Williams will host cocktails at the Police Officers’ Club; and on March 9, Lasco will host a luncheon at its headquarters at White Marl in Spanish Town, St Catherine.
Detective Sergeant Lindo will pass on the duties as Lasco/JCF Police Officer of the Year at an awards ceremony on March 30.
