Dec. 5, 2025, update:
182 units of blood were collected Thursday (Dec. 4, 2025) during the second day of the 21st annual Tyler Wilcox Memorial Guns N’ Hoses Blood Drive in Fort Pierre and Pierre, bringing the two-day total to 313 units collected.
The contest between firefighters and members of law enforcement has Team Guns in the lead with 150 to Team Hoses with 140. Today’s hours are from now until 1:30pm at Faith Lutheran Church in Pierre
Kim Jensen-Dietrich with LifeServe says because their donations stay primarily in South Dakota, donors are notified fairly quickly when their blood is on the way to someone who needs it.
Jensen-Dietrich says they know most people don’t donate blood to get a “pat on the back” or some type of recognition
Those donating blood need to bring some form of identification with them. It’s also recommended that they eat a good meal and be well hydrated prior to donating.
LifeServe Blood Center is the sole supplier of blood and blood products for all of Avera’s hospitals in South Dakota– including the ones in Pierre, Mobridge, Gettysburg and Miller.
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Dec. 5, 2025:
182 units of blood were collected on Day 2 (Dec. 4, 2025) of the 21st annual Tyler Wilcox Memorial Guns N’ Hoses Blood Drive, bringing the two-day total of units collected to 313.
The score for the friendly contest pitting members of law enforcement against firefighters stands at Team Guns with 150 and Team Hoses with 140.
Friday is the last day of this year’s blood drive. The hours are from 8am-1:30pm at Faith Lutheran Church in Pierre
More information can be found on the Tyler Wilcox Memorial Guns n’ Hoses Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/gunshoses2022.
Schedule an appointment to donate on Friday by going to the LifeServe Blood Center website, https://www.lifeservebloodcenter.org/.
Bob and Jeri Wilcox at the 21st annual Tyler Wilcox Memorial Guns N’ Hoses Blood Drive, Day 2 at Faith Lutheran Church in Pierre.
Dec. 4, 2025.
Photo credit to DRG Media Group.
Information about Tyler at the 21st annual Tyler Wilcox Memorial Guns N’ Hoses Blood Drive, Day 2 at Faith Lutheran Church in Pierre.
Dec. 4, 2025.
Photo credit to DRG Media Group.
21st annual Tyler Wilcox Memorial Guns N’ Hoses Blood Drive, Day 2 at Faith Lutheran Church in Pierre.
Dec. 4, 2025.
Photo credit to DRG Media Group.
21st annual Tyler Wilcox Memorial Guns N’ Hoses Blood Drive, Day 2 at Faith Lutheran Church in Pierre.
Dec. 4, 2025.
Photo credit to DRG Media Group.
LifeServe Blood Center staff working at the 21st annual Tyler Wilcox Memorial Guns N’ Hoses Blood Drive, Day 2 at Faith Lutheran Church in Pierre.
Dec. 4, 2025.
Photo credit to DRG Media Group.
DRG Sports Director Justin Cowart interviews LifeServe Territory Representative Abbie Arneson during the 21st annual Tyler Wilcox Memorial Guns N’ Hoses Blood Drive, Day 2 at Faith Lutheran Church in Pierre.
Dec. 4, 2025.
Photo credit to DRG Media Group.
Dec. 4, 2025:
130 units of blood were collected Wednesday (Dec. 3, 2025) during the first day of the 21st annual Tyler Wilcox Memorial Guns N’ Hoses Blood Drive in Fort Pierre and Pierre.
What’s become an annual event began when 16 year old Tyler Wilcox was diagnosed with cancer in his left knee. He endured 3 years of treatments, 32 hours of surgeries and used over 200 blood products. During his battle against cancer Tyler and his family became aware of the importance of blood donation.
Kim Jensen-Dietrich is with LifeServe, the company that collects the blood during the annual event. She says Tyler himself came up with the idea of having a blood drive to “pay back the blood I have used.”
Jensen-Dietrich reminds people to have some form of identification with them when they come to donate blood.
Tyler passed away a few weeks before the first blood drive was held back in Dec. 2005. As of last year, 5,222 units of blood products have been donated during the annual Tyler Wilcox Memorial Guns N’ Hoses Blood Drive in Fort Pierre and Pierre.
On a related note, LifeServe is updating its computer system. They recently sent out text messages and/or emails to people registered with them asking them to update their information. If folks received that text and/or email, it is indeed a true, legitimate request from LifeServe.
The Guns N’ Hoses Blood Drive hours:
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Thursday, Dec. 4 from noon-5:30pm at Faith Lutheran Church in Pierre
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Friday, Dec. 5 from 8am-1:30pm at Faith Lutheran Church in Pierre
More information can be found on the Tyler Wilcox Memorial Guns n’ Hoses Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/gunshoses2022.
A blood donor’s vote is counted whether they are able to complete the donation or not. People who donate double red cells count as two units of blood collected, but only receive one vote toward the team tally.
Schedule an appointment to donate on Friday by going to the LifeServe Blood Center website, https://www.lifeservebloodcenter.org/.
LifeServe Blood Center is the sole supplier of blood and blood products for all of Avera’s hospitals in South Dakota– including the ones in Pierre, Mobridge, Gettysburg and Miller.
Photo credit to DRG Media Group.
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Dec. 3, 2025:
Wednesday (Dec. 3, 2025) is the first day of the 21st annual Tyler Wilcox Memorial Guns N’ Hoses Blood Drive in Fort Pierre and Pierre.
While the event does include some fun, back-and-forth teasing between members of law enforcement and firefighters, LifeServe Blood Center Territory Representative Abbie Arneson says when people need blood, it’s typically a serious situation.
The rules for what disqualifies a person from donating blood have changed over the years, but Arneson says there continues to be quite a few misconceptions that keep eligible donors away.
Arneson reviews the current requirements for donating blood.
Arneson says people have two options for donating blood during the Tyler Wilcox Memorial Guns N’ Hoses Blood Drive in Fort Pierre and Pierre.
The Guns N’ Hoses Blood Drive hours and locations are:
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Wednesday, Dec. 3 from noon-5:30pm CT at the Fort Pierre Fire Hall
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Thursday, Dec. 4 from noon-5:30pm at Faith Lutheran Church in Pierre
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Friday, Dec. 5 from 8am-1:30pm at Faith Lutheran Church in Pierre
Schedule an appointment to donate on Thursday or Friday by going to the LifeServe Blood Center website, https://www.lifeservebloodcenter.org/.
More information can also be found on the Tyler Wilcox Memorial Guns n’ Hoses Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/gunshoses2022.
Photo credit to DRG Media Group.
21st annual Tyler Wilcox Memorial Guns N’ Hoses Blood Drive, Day 1 at the Fort Pierre Fire Hall.
Dec. 3, 2025.
Photo credit to DRG Media Group.
21st annual Tyler Wilcox Memorial Guns N’ Hoses Blood Drive, Day 1 at the Fort Pierre Fire Hall.
Dec. 3, 2025.
Photo credit to DRG Media Group.
21st annual Tyler Wilcox Memorial Guns N’ Hoses Blood Drive, Day 1 at the Fort Pierre Fire Hall.
Dec. 3, 2025.
Photo credit to DRG Media Group.
21st annual Tyler Wilcox Memorial Guns N’ Hoses Blood Drive, Day 1 at the Fort Pierre Fire Hall.
Dec. 3, 2025.
Photo credit to DRG Media Group.
21st annual Tyler Wilcox Memorial Guns N’ Hoses Blood Drive, Day 1 at the Fort Pierre Fire Hall.
Dec. 3, 2025.
Photo credit to DRG Media Group.
21st annual Tyler Wilcox Memorial Guns N’ Hoses Blood Drive, Day 1 at the Fort Pierre Fire Hall.
Dec. 3, 2025.
Photo credit to DRG Media Group.
21st annual Tyler Wilcox Memorial Guns N’ Hoses Blood Drive, Day 1 at the Fort Pierre Fire Hall.
Dec. 3, 2025.
Photo credit to DRG Media Group.
21st annual Tyler Wilcox Memorial Guns N’ Hoses Blood Drive, Day 1 at the Fort Pierre Fire Hall.
Dec. 3, 2025.
Photo credit to DRG Media Group.
21st annual Tyler Wilcox Memorial Guns N’ Hoses Blood Drive, Day 1 at the Fort Pierre Fire Hall.
Dec. 3, 2025.
Photo credit to DRG Media Group.
21st annual Tyler Wilcox Memorial Guns N’ Hoses Blood Drive, Day 1 at the Fort Pierre Fire Hall.
Dec. 3, 2025.
Photo credit to DRG Media Group.
21st annual Tyler Wilcox Memorial Guns N’ Hoses Blood Drive, Day 1 at the Fort Pierre Fire Hall.
Dec. 3, 2025.
Photo credit to DRG Media Group.
21st annual Tyler Wilcox Memorial Guns N’ Hoses Blood Drive, Day 1 at the Fort Pierre Fire Hall.
Dec. 3, 2025.
Photo credit to DRG Media Group.
21st annual Tyler Wilcox Memorial Guns N’ Hoses Blood Drive, Day 1 at the Fort Pierre Fire Hall.
Dec. 3, 2025.
Photo credit to DRG Media Group.
Photo credit to DRG Media Group.
Nov. 13, 2025:
It’s almost time to roll up your sleeves for the 21st annual Tyler Wilcox Memorial Guns ‘N’ Hoses Blood Drive Dec. 3-5, 2025, in Pierre and Fort Pierre.
At the age of 16 Tyler Wilcox was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in his left knee. His mother, Jeri, talks about some of the blood products Tyler used and the genesis of what would become an annual event.
Wilcox says it is an event that includes plenty of friendly banter and rivalry.
Abbie Arneson, LifeServe Blood Center Territory Representative, says people can find information about donating blood or schedule their appointment to donate during the Tyler Wilcox Memorial Guns N’ Hoses Blood Drive by going to the LifeServe website, (https://www.lifeservebloodcenter.org/about-us/promotions/guns-n-hoses/).
Wilcox says for those who are nervous around needles, LifeServe has a great team of phlebotomists manning the event and the blood donation process is relatively quick.
The three day event is held at two sites, Dec. 3 from noon-5:30 p.m. at the Fort Pierre Fire Station; and Dec. 4 from noon-5:30 p.m. and Dec. 5 from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Faith Lutheran Church in Pierre.
LifeServe Blood Center is the sole supplier of blood and blood products for all of Avera’s hospitals in South Dakota– including the ones in Pierre, Mobridge, Gettysburg and Miller.
Aug. 27, 2025:
Pierre is now one of four towns in South Dakota where LifeServe Blood Center has a permanent, brick-and-mortar location to collect blood. The other three towns are Aberdeen, Mitchell and Yankton.
LifeServe Territory Representative Abbie Arneson says the support they get from the Pierre and Fort Pierre communities is a really big deal.
LifeServe will host an open house Sept. 22 from 4-6pm, featuring giveaways, tours, food and more.
Additionally, Arneson encourages people to put the dates of the 21st annual Tyler Wilcox Memorial Guns n’ Hoses Blood Drive on their calendars. It’ll be held Dec. 3, 2025, at the Fire Hall in Fort Pierre and Dec. 4-5 at Faith Lutheran Church in Pierre.
LifeServe is the sole supplier of blood and blood products for the Avera healthcare facilities, including those in Gettysburg, Miller, Pierre, Chamberlain and Winner.
Aug. 26, 2025:
LifeServe’s new Blood Donor Center in Pierre is open.
During a ribbon cutting event on Monday (Aug. 25, 2025), LifeServe President/CEO Stacy Sime said the support from the Pierre and Fort Pierre Communities is what made it happen.
Sime lives in Des Moines, IA, but is originally from the Milbank, SD, area. She said she loves seeing LifeServe grow in South Dakota.
Sime gave special mention to an event that she feels is a huge part of why the Pierre and Fort Pierre communities are so committed to donating blood.
The hours the LifeServe Donor Center in Pierre is open will vary until they are fully staffed. The Donor Center is located at 1908 N. Garfield Avenue (in the Larkspur Landing building). They’ll host an open house Sept. 22 from 4-6pm, featuring giveaways, tours, food and more.
Despite having a brick and mortar location in Pierre, LifeServe will have occasional mobile blood drives at many of the traditional locations in Pierre and Fort Pierre. Mobile blood drives will continue as usual in the surrounding communities.
The Pierre facility is LifeServe’s fourth permanent blood donation center in South Dakota, joining centers in Aberdeen, Mitchell and Yankton. Pierre is the organization’s 15th permanent location in its four-state service area.
For more information about employment opportunities, blood donation or to schedule an appointment to donate, call 1-800-287-4903 or visit lifeservebloodcenter.org.
Photo credit to Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.
Photo credit to Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.
Photo credit to Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.
Photo credit to Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.
Photo credit to Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.
Photo credit to Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.
LifeServe Territory Representative Abbie Arneson and LifeServe CEO/President Stacy Sime.
Photo credit to Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.
LifeServe CEO/President Stacy Sime.
Photo credit to Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.
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July 31, 2025:
LifeServe Blood Center plans to officially open its new donor center in Pierre next month.
Territory Representative Abbie Arneson is excited to invite the public to a ribbon cutting being held Monday, August 25, 2025, at 2pm.
Arneson says they hope to have the Pierre Blood Donor Center open following the ribbon cutting….if they have enough staff.
Arneson says although they will have a brick and mortar location in Pierre, they will have occasional mobile blood drives at many of the traditional locations in Pierre and Fort Pierre. She says mobile blood drives will continue as usual in the surrounding communities.
September 22 from 4-6pm, Arneson says LifeServe will hold an open house featuring giveaways, tours, food and more. The LifeServe Blood Donor Center location in Pierre is at at 1908 N. Garfield Avenue (in the Larkspur Landing building).
The Pierre facility will be LifeServe’s fourth permanent blood donation center in South Dakota, joining centers in Aberdeen, Mitchell and Yankton. Pierre will be the organization’s 15th permanent location in its four-state service area.
For more information about employment opportunities, blood donation or to schedule an appointment to donate, call 1-800-287-4903 or visit lifeservebloodcenter.org.
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