Fans for the seniors

The Nevada Highway Patrol stepped up again to help local senior citizens.

A one-day Cram the Cruiser campaign sponsored by the Fallon/Fernley District on Friday focused on receiving donations for fans and other items.

“It went better than expected,” Trooper Trent Barnes said. “The community was great.”

During the 12-hour period from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., the troopers took in 102 fans, 73 cases of water and various food items and $1,200.

The response was overwhelming in the morning, especially during the first two hours when two NHP cruisers were almost packed with fans.

Those manning the donation area, said Barnes, included troopers who volunteered to spend a few hours and others who were on shift.

Buster Pierce, senior services manager for the Churchill County Senior Center, said he was pleased to see the good response from the community.

“Many seniors are on limited resources, and there is a big need in the community to provide resources,” he said. “We partner with them (NHP) and that has helped out.”

Jamie Lee, Senior Center director, said each senior is placed on a priority list according to needs. She said the center will distribute the fans.

“We have enough fans to give one to each senior on the list,” she said.

Lee said she is appreciative of the NHP and its help.

“We had a need for fans for the seniors, so we called Trooper Barnes and asked if they wanted to participate,” Lee said.

This isn’t the first time the Senior Center and NHP have worked together. Lee said during the holiday season in December, the NHP conducted a Cram the Cruiser day for shoppers to donate items for the seniors.

“We try to help out as much as we can,” Barnes said “It’s a nice rapport between us and the community.”