LAKEPORT, Calif. – A central storefront for distributing the Valley fire donations that have poured in from around the country is set to open this week in Lakeport.
The “store” – which actually will offer donated goods at no cost to Valley fire victims – will open on Monday, Oct. 19, in the former Sears retail store at 857 11th St., next to the laundromat behind Round Table Pizza.
The store is being run by Adventist Community Services, according to Seth Cantu, who is a part of the pastoral team at the Upper Lake Seventh-day Adventist Church.
“We'll be open Monday for our first day,” said Cantu.
This week, the store will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday as they work to finalize the schedule and make sure they have volunteers to cover all the hours, Cantu said.
Then, next weekend, regular hours will get fully under way, with the store to be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, Cantu said.
He said Sunday is being added to the schedule so that people who work have a chance to stop in over the weekend.
“In the beginning we really want to be there as often as we can for the people,” he said.
As time goes on, Cantu said survivors' needs will determine opening hours and days.
The 7,000-square-foot building has 5,000 square feet of display space and 2,000 square feet for stocking and sorting, Cantu said.
Cantu said the hub for handling donations – including sorting and storage – is at the Work Right building next to Lampson Airport.
County Deputy Administrative Officer Jeff Rein said the 66,000-square-foot Work Right building is filled with donations that are being sorted and that then will be transferred to the Lakeport storefront for free distribution.
Rein said the county has received donations from all 48 continental states. “As a result, the county has been inundated with donated clothing, personal items, household goods and the like and for the most part, material donations are more than sufficient to meet the need.”
He credited both Adventist Community Services and members of the local Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for lending their time and expertise to achieving “significant progress” in organizing the consolidated approach to handling the donations.
Donations that had been collected by other organizations, such as the Clearlake Oaks Moose Lodge, the Middletown and Cobb Lions clubs, Middletown Bible Church, United Christian Parish, Clearlake Methodist Church and many others, are now being directed to the distribution center, according to Rein and Cantu.
When community members impacted by the fire visit the store, they will be asked to present a form of identification, as well as their pre-disaster address, their current address and information about their family, Cantu said.
That information, he said, will be used to help keep track of needs and assist with outreach, as well as ensure that people who need the items get them.
In addition to the Lakeport site, Rein said the county is attempting to find space in Cobb or Middletown – or both – to set up similar distribution points in the south county.
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Lakeport distribution center for Valley fire donations opens Oct. 19
- Elizabeth Larson
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