Latest local news, weather and high school sports from the Midlands

Emergency services personnel from around Lexington and Richland Counties will participate in the eleventh annual Jeff Chavis Boot Drive this weekend.

People are encouraged to fill firefighters' boots with donations throughout the weekend.

The event will be held at Lexington and Richland County Walmart Stores from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.

In Lexington County, personnel will be collecting funds from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at major intersections across the county.

Jeff Chavis was a Lexington County Firefighter who died in 2001 while battling a structure fire in Lexington County.

Donations from the event support the operations of the Jeffrey Vaden Chavis House at the Joseph M. Still Burn Unit in Augusta, Ga, which is the largest burn unit in the United States, according to event officials.

According to authorities, firefighters from Lexington County Fire Service, Columbia-Richland County Fire Department, Irmo Fire District, West Columbia Fire Department, Cayce Public Safety, Batesburg-Leesville Fire Department, and members of Lexington County EMS are participating in the fundraiser.

Anyone that is interested in learning more about the fundraiser should call Lexington County Boot Drive Coordinators Tony Signorino at 803-785-8331 or Eddie Turner at 803-785-8632.