While former Emporian McKenzie Payne may be gone; her family, friends, and community came together to keep her memory alive Sunday.
A special blood drive was held at Flint Hills Mall in memory of Payne for the American Red Cross. The drive is the second to be held in her honor after a similar event at Emporia State University last year.
According to Payne’s longtime friend, and drive organizer, Kevin Sandoval it did not take much for residents to get involved this year.
Before she was killed in Wichita in June of last year, Payne, an Emporia High graduate, was planning to attend medical school at the University of Kansas. Sandoval says while Payne may be gone, the blood drive allows her friends and family to carry on her mission of serving those in need.
Sandoval says his goal was to double the number of donations from last year which was around 35. This year’s drive had over 70 appointments and numerous walk-ins who stepped up to donate throughout the day.
Sandoval is hopeful the drive will become an annual event from this point on.
According to Susan Faler of the American Red Cross, the drive generated 60 pints of blood, 17 pints over the goal of 43.
Photos by Tagan Trahoon/KVOE News
{gallery}McKenzie Payne Blood Drive{/gallery}
