LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake Area Rotary Club Association, which in recent years has been a key fundraising organization to assist in Lake County’s fire recovery, said Wednesday that it’s changing its mission to help with emergency relief in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it’s starting off with a major donation to local senior centers.

The association, also known as LARCA, said its Fire Relief Fund is changing its focus and will become the LARCA COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund.

As such, LARCA is donating $40,000 to the four senior centers in Lake County to help with the loss of income from their thrift stores and the increase in demand for home-delivered meals through the Meals on Wheels program.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Lake County’s senior center were serving approximately 500 Meals on Wheels to homebound seniors daily, in addition to several hundred more who dined at one of the four senior centers in Lake County.

With the closing of the centers’ dining rooms, daily home deliveries increased to approximately 800 the week of March 16th following state, county and city “shelter in place” mandates.

The Meals on Wheels program is expected to increase an additional 25 percent during the beginning of week two and ultimately could more than double over the coming weeks.

Senior centers exist on limited funding from the Area Agency on Aging and individual fundraising efforts. With the senior centers being closed due to COVID-19, these fundraising efforts have all but ceased while costs are increasing exponentially.

Since its inception in 2015, LARCA has raised more than $3,000,000 for fire relief efforts.

Through the volunteerism and support of our Rotary Clubs, LARCA’s members pride themselves on maintaining the funds with zero overhead. This means every penny donated has gone to relief efforts.

The LARCA COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund is now accepting donations to help seniors, our most vulnerable population, as well as small businesses to survive this unprecedented pandemic.

Donations can easily be made online or via mail-in check. LARCA is a 501(c)3 organization.

For online donations go to www.LARCA5130.org, or send your checks to LARCA, P.O. Box 2921, Clearlake, CA 95422.

The Lake Area Rotary Club Association thanks you in advance for your generous donations in helping our local seniors.