Life Jacket Drive Honors Zach Lacy By Partnering With Sea Tow Foundation To Promote Water Safety

BOSCAWEN, NH — A life jacket drive by the Zach Lacy Tribute Toss and the Sea Tow Foundation hopes to collect new and gently used life jackets for Concord-area loaner stations, with donation boxes expected at seven local locations starting Monday.

The drive is meant to replenish Sea Tow Foundation life jacket loaner stations in the area and expand access to free safety gear boaters can borrow and return. Organizers said the effort is also intended to raise water safety awareness in the community.

The Zach Lacy Tribute Toss was established in honor of Zach Lacy, the son of the event founders, who died in a drowning accident on Aug. 1, 2020. An annual Memorial Tribute Toss, a cornhole event, was established in 2021 to raise money for scholarships at local schools. The life jacket drive is being presented as a partnership opportunity alongside that ongoing effort.

Donation boxes will be in place by Monday at American Legion Post #31; Alan’s Restaurant in Boscawen; Boscawen Town Offices; Big Jims in Concord; Famous Footwear at Tanger Outlets; Mountain Ridge in Franklin; and Winnisquam Marina in Winnisquam.

The org hopes to broaden safety awareness noting drowning was listed as the cause of death in three out of four fatal boating accidents and 87 percent of those victims were not wearing a life jacket. It also states that, on average, 3,536 people die from drowning annually, or 10 deaths each day, and that thousands of others suffer swimming pool-related injuries each year.

Providing access to life jackets through free loaner stations is one way to help prevent those tragedies. Donated life jackets in good condition will be added to the loaner stations in the Concord area.