Life Jacket Loaner Stations Stocked for the Start of Beach Season
Pictured L to R: Pictured left to right: Michael Landis, assistant city manager and Kate Hosier, city manager, South Haven; Heather Oestrike, director of donor relations, Bronson Health Foundation; Pam Ford, coordinator, Safe Kids Greater South Haven; Tish Hill, director, Bronson Women and Children’s; Annie Brown, mayor, South Haven; Bradley Pachuta, beach safety attendant; Adam De Boer, interim police chief; Kimberly Thomas, beach safety attendant; and Matt Dey, beach safety and facilities superintendent.
SOUTH HAVEN, Mich. — As the start of beach-going season approaches, life jacket loaner stations are now stocked for the spring and summer along South Haven beaches.
These life jackets and stations were made possible thanks to the generosity of community organizations and individuals who donated to Bronson Health Foundation, which funds Safe Kids Greater South Haven. The boards and jackets were gifted to the city of South Haven, which installed the stations and oversees their upkeep.
“We wanted to fill the 15 loaner stations as people start to arrive to enjoy the Lake Michigan shoreline,” says Pam Ford, Safe Kids program coordinator. “The stations first went up throughout the season last year and it was great to see them in use. We look forward to even more people taking advantage of this layer of protection this year.”
Safe Kids Greater South Haven is led by Bronson South Haven Hospital, and has a coalition made up of community leaders and first responders who provide input and guidance on child safety initiatives.
"Life jacket loaner boards are a simple yet powerful way to protect lives—offering peace of mind and safety for both visitors exploring our waters and residents who call them home,” says Annie Brown, mayor of South Haven. “The City of South Haven is very appreciative and grateful for the generous donation from Safe Kids Greater South Haven.”
Each board is stocked with approximately 20 life jackets in both adult and children’s sizes. The jackets are free for beachgoers to borrow while they are at the Lake Michigan shoreline. “We are so grateful to the donors who recognized that having these boards available can make a lifesaving difference,” says Liz Semaan, executive director of Bronson Health Foundation. The donors, whose names are recognized on the boards, include Carlson Farms and friends, Edward Jones, Rotary Club of South Haven, Tom and Heather Schripsema, The Schripsema Family, and South Haven Black River Lions Club.
