Want to find a new home for a gently used or new lifejacket? Consider donating it to during Fish, Wildlife & Parks Lifejacket Donation Drive. The drive celebrates National Safe Boating Week, which is May 19-23.
The donated jackets are cleaned and inspected and then used to resupply designated lifejacket loaner stations in communities across Montana. Lifejacket loaner stations provide lifejackets to borrow for the day and promote safe water recreation. Each year, lifejacket loaner stations need restocked after life jackets are lost, stolen or damaged during regular use throughout the season.
Any size lifejacket may be donated. All wearable lifejackets are acceptable, except inflatable lifejackets. To donate, simply drop off lifejacket(s) to a donation station between May 19 and 23. Staff will inspect, clean and distribute to community lifejacket loaner stations.
Loaner stations are built, stocked, funded and maintained by County Search and Rescue, Boy Scouts, local recreation groups such as Walleye’s Unlimited, BLM, FWP, county health departments, YMCA and others.
Donation locations:
- FWP Region 2, Missoula Office: 3201 Spurgin Road, Missoula 406-542-5500
- FWP Region 3, Bozeman Office: 1400 S. 19th Avenue, Bozeman 406-577-7900
- Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park lower visitor center: 25 Lewis and Clark Caverns Road, Whitehall 406-287-3541
- MT WILD: 2668 Broadwater Ave, Helena 406-444-9944
- FWP Region 4, Great Falls Office: 4600 Giant Springs Road 406-454-5840
- FWP Region 5, Billings Office: 2300 Lake Elmo Drive, Billings 406-247-2940
- Cooney State Park Office: 86 Lake Shore Road, Roberts MT 59070. 406-445-2326
Drop sites may be indoors or outdoors; please check at your selected site or call ahead and ask. Please do not drop off lifejackets to existing loaner stations as they need to be cleaned and labeled prior to public distribution.
FWP will accept lifejackets in serviceable condition according to U.S. Coast Guard standards and that meet the below criteria.
- Free from rips, tears, or open seams in fabric or coating
- Buckles, straps, webbing, and zippers in clean, good working condition
- USCG label and certification number clearly visible and readable
- Buoyant material in good condition
- Not accepting inflatable lifejackets at this time
No personal information is required for donation.
Lifejackets are required for each person aboard a watercraft, including paddlecraft such as paddleboards and kayaks, and must be worn by children under the age of 12 while aboard. Around 85 percent of drowning victims are not wearing a lifejacket at the time of water entry. Lifejackets keep you safe by supporting your body and keeping your head above water.
National Safe Boating Week is a national campaign to bring awareness to safe boating practices as the boating season gets underway in many places, including Montana.
Wear your lifejacket and be safe this summer.
For more information, contact Kylie Kembel at 406-444-5280 or kylie.kembel@mt.gov.
