Family and friends of 10-year-old Logan Ruiz are keeping his memory alive by helping Lake County first responders who handle calls involving children and adults on the autism spectrum.

Logan, who was autistic and nonverbal, died Aug. 27, 2022, when he was struck and killed by a CN train after wandering from his Dyer home, despite the family’s efforts to secure the home.

Supporters of Logan’s Love, a nonprofit group formed in Logan’s honor, spoke at Thursday’s Lake Station City Council meeting and distributed sensory aids, supplies and training information for the city’s first responders.

Nicole Reveliotis, Logan’s mom, said her son had an autism side effect called “elopement,” which made him a flight risk.

Logan was described as a “sweet boy with a pure heart” who enjoyed jumping on a trampoline, swimming, playing with bubbles and foam sea creatures. He loved cheeseburgers and music, especially “Baby Shark.”

Last year, Reveliotis and other supporters established Logan’s Love to hold events for other families with autistic children and to advocate and educate Lake County police and fire departments when crews respond to calls involving autistic children and adults.

“We want to make Lake County one of the best communities to live for autism families,” Reveliotis told the council.

In conjunction with Ben’s Blue Bags, founded by Crown Point Fire Department Capt. Matt Kodicek, they gave the council 15 blue backpacks equipped with sensory toys and noise-canceling headphones to aid first responders.

Kodicek’s son Ben also is on the autism spectrum, he said.

“I saw a need as a first responder with 20 years’ experience as a paramedic,” Kodicek told the city council.

“We’ve had two tragic cases in Lake County in the past five years, with Logan being one of them.”

Logan’s Love has joined forces with Kodicek to raise money for 150 Ben’s backpacks for Lake County first responders.Reveliotis said her organization held its first autism walk and an Easter egg hunt for children with special needs last year.

The group also supports Project Lifesaver, a nationwide organization that offers search and rescue technology such as bracelets with transmitters connected to a national database, that aid first responders in locating missing people.

Lake Station Fire Chief Chuck Fazekas said the Lake Station Lions Club provided 15 Project Lifesaver bracelets for children with special needs. Fazekas said the bracelets cost about $400 annually and there’s a waiting list for them. Families can contact the fire department to sign up, he said.

Reveliotis said Logan’s Love is making a $6,000 donation at the Jan. 21 Dyer town council meeting for Project Lifesaver bracelets and transmitters.

Fazekas said he’s grateful for Ben’s Blue Bags’ donation and said they will be added to fire engines and ambulances.

Next up for Logan’s Love is a Dec. 14 Sensory Santa Visit from noon to 5 p.m. at Homan Elementary School, 219 E. Joliet St., Schererville. The free event is open to all ages and abilities with time slots to limit wait times. A sensory room will be available.

To sign up, visit: https://www.zeffy.com/ticketing/8909ee12-4623-4780-999e-4a229e41064f

Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.