Just over a week ago, the blighted Rosemary Apartments in north Toledo finally came down.
It was that vacant building, which stood at the corner of N. Detroit Ave. and Phillips Ave., where 16-year-old Joshua Sorrell fell five stories to his death while exploring the abandoned property with friends in June of 2016.
For the past 6 years, the family has held a blood drive every year in Joshua’s memory.
At this year’s event, the family said they are feeling some relief. The place which has haunted them for years, reminding them of their son’s death, has been torn down, lifting a weight off their chests.
They said they cannot bring back their son, but the 400 pints of blood that has been collected over the years in his honor is a silver-lining.
On Saturday, the effort continued at Fairgreen Presbyterian Church.
The drive started in 2016 with the help of family friends, a month after Joshua’s death. Since then they have since partnered with The Red Cross to hold blood drives twice a year.
Kerri Sorrell, Joshua’s mother, said he was a member of the Red Cross Club at Whitmer High School where he donated his own blood on several occasions.
“It just seemed to make sense. There was nothing to do to bring Joshua back but there was something positive we could make happen,” said Sorrell.
Over the years, the family has formed relationships with donors and volunteers who have continued to take part in the effort year after year.
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