DENHAM SPRINGS, La. (BRPROUD) – A Denham Springs restaurant named Big Mike’s Sports Bar and Grill hosted a giveback day for Corporal Shawn Kelly who is in critical condition after being shot near a shopping center last week. 

Taking it up a notch to showcase support, the restaurant not only decided to give back a percentage of their food sales, but also set up a blood drive.

“So we started planning the giveback day. And then with him, you know, being in the hospital, fighting for his life, the blood was just, you know, a great, you know, addition to this whole thing,” said owner of Big Mike’s Sports Bar and Grill, Mike O’Neal. 

He said the news about Kelly hit home and he wanted to make sure to use his restaurant to showcase his support as much as possible. “We knew Shawn. My dad was a police officer for 20 years so it was very dear to my heart. And we immediately wanted to do something,” he said.

O’Neal said this is not the first time they hosted a giveback day but this is the first time they hosted a blood drive inside the restaurant. 

Denham Springs resident Michelle Barcomb came straight from her nursing job at a local Denham Springs school campus to order food and donate blood.

“I mean, he goes to work every day to protect and serve. So I wanted to do what I could to show support for his family,” she said. 

O’Neal says the community has united in many ways, and the outpouring of love allowed the restaurant to even break a lunch record. 

“My daughter just said, we have one of our top ten lunches ever. And, you know, we’ve been here 13 years. I’ve been in business over 30,” he said. “That’s what Denham Springs does, they come together and they help each other in times of need.” 

Along with providing the area for the blood drive, the restaurant conducted raffles, accepted donations from the community and also allowed a local band to perform during the giveback day. 

O’Neal said he is thankful for the support of the community and also thankful for The Blood Center. Public Relations Manager for The Blood Center, Paul Adams, said those wanting to give blood should locate surrounding blood centers and donate. Donors must mention Cpl. Shawn Kelly for a $10 donation to be made to the Kelly family by The Blood Center.