Online vigil encouraged for Sierra LaMar

The KlaasKids Foundation is asking users of social media Internet sites to participate in a 24-hour online vigil for Sierra LaMar, the Sobrato High School sophomore who has been missing from her north Morgan Hill home for 17 days. 

The online tribute to LaMar is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Monday. Users of all social media sites – such as Facebook, Twitter and Google-Plus – are asked to change their profile pictures to a photo of the missing teen until 6 p.m. Tuesday, according to a press release from KlaasKids. 

The purpose of the vigil is to encourage online awareness, involvement and family support for the search for Sierra across the Internet, according to KlaasKids. 

KlaasKids is a nationwide nonprofit that is devoted to finding missing children. The foundation has set up camp in Morgan Hill for the last week, at Burnett Elementary School, organizing volunteer community search efforts that have collectively drawn more than 2,000 searchers.

On Sunday, more than 500 people volunteered to search, comprising 64 teams that have now expanded the search radius to 20 miles from Sierra’s home, which is near Palm and Dougherty avenues. 

The foundation continues to work with law enforcement and help Sierra’s family with future searches, according to the press release. 

Daily volunteer search efforts have been suspended by KlaasKids as of Monday morning, but searches are scheduled again for Saturday, April 7, and Wednesday, April 11, according to the press release. Those who want to help can show up at Burnett Elementary, 85 Tilton Ave., on those days from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. People can also help by donating supplies and money to assist in the search efforts. 

Sierra’s family, the KlaasKids Foundation, the Laura Recovery Center and Child Quest International noted they have received substantial support from area individuals, clubs and businesses who have volunteered for and donated to the effort to find Sierra. 

Sierra LaMar is about 5-feet, 2-inches tall with a thin build and dark hair. 

For more information on the Sierra LaMar Search Center, call (408) 201-6364.

Anyone with information on the case can contact Santa Clara County Communications at 299-2311, or send an e-mail to ti**@sh*****.org.

During normal business hours callers can call Sheriff’s Investigators at 808-4500 or the anonymous tip line at 808-4431. Information or tips can also be sent via the Sheriff’s Office website at sccgov.org/portal/site/sheriff. Information can also be submitted by text at 421-6760.