As tens of thousands of campers are preparing to converge on Lahontan State Park for Memorial Day weekend, the Lyon County Sheriff's Search and Rescue unit is ramping up efforts to gather hundreds of life vests to hand out to the park's youngest visitors.
Sheriff's Lt. Brian Veil, a search and rescue member, said the life vest drive was prompted by the drowning of 6-year-old Apollo Fuller at the lake last summer.
After two days of scouring the lake and surrounding beaches by law enforcement officers and search and rescue members, the Reno boy's body was recovered from the murky waters on July 7.
Veil said Apollo's death was felt by everyone.
"It really affected a lot of search and rescue members and the community. We decided to be proactive, so while we are stationed out there Memorial weekend we can pass these out to kids," he said.
While Veil initially hoped to gather between 500 and 1,000 new vests for children ages 10 and under when the drive began the first of March, thus far, only 11 have been collected.
"Anything to keep their heads out of the water," he said.
Drop-off locations have been set up at the Carson City Sheriff's Office, Churchill County Sheriff's Office, Lyon County Sheriff's Office in Yerington, Lyon County Sheriff's substations in Dayton, Silver Springs and Fernley, and Nevada Uniforms located at 235 Keystone Avenue in Reno.
This is the first year a life vest drive has ever happened, said Veil.
He said donations toward the purchase of the vests can also be sent to his attention at the Lyon County Sheriff's Office, 30 Nevin Way, Yerington, NV 89447. Mark in the memo "For Life Vests."
Search and Rescue is also hosting a Bingo Night fundraiser May 8 at the Boys & Girls Club of Mason Valley at 124 N. Main St. in Yerington. Proceeds will go toward the purchase of vests, said Veil.
For more information on the drive Veil can be reached at 775-577-5096 or contact Search & Rescue Commander Patty Polish at 848-0252.