Our History

LARCA was formed in 2013 and received its non-profit 501(c)3 status in March 2014 for the purpose of supporting the fundraising efforts of the individual Rotary Clubs in Lake County. After the 2015 wildfires in Lake County an additional purpose was added, administering a Fire Relief Fund to help Fire survivors to recover from these devastating fires. In 2016 followed the Clayton Fire that destroyed 300+/- homes and a number of businesses in Lower Lake. LARCA kept right on going. Then in 2017 came the October firestorms that took an enormous toll on Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino and Lake Counties. Our Rotary District 5130 came to LARCA, asking if we would be willing to expand the effort to cover the four counties. The resulting District 5130 Fire Relief Fund was then formed and administered by LARCA. In 2018, the largest fire in California history started in eastern Mendocino County and has burned across the western and northern reaches of Lake County. The fire, known as the Mendocino Complex burned into and around the earlier Pawnee Fire in Lake County.

The year 2019 turned out to be a respite for LARCA. Our activities were limited to our original mission, that of supporting the fundraising efforts of our four Rotary Clubs in Lake County. In 2020, with the outbreak of COVID-19, LARCA changed its focus to COVID-19 related relief, primarily to help keep our Senior Centers functioning.

With the August 18, 2021 Cache Fire that devastated a mobile home park as well as a number of surrounding homes in Clearlake, LARCA Emergency Relief Fund has returned to its roots of providing assistance to fire survivors. We will also continue to support COVID-19 related challenges.

What We Do

Since its inception in 2015, the LARCA and District 5130 Fire Relief Funds have raised more than $3,000,000 for fire relief efforts. Through the volunteerism and support of our Rotary Clubs we pride ourselves on maintaining the funds with zero overhead. This means every penny donated has gone to our relief efforts.

With the onset of COVID-19 our focus shifted to providing financial relief to those impacted by the pandemic, particularly our Senior Centers “Meals on Wheels” program. Fire relief in the form of “General Assistance Grants” to Cache Fire survivors has now been added.

Our Mission

The ongoing mission of LARCA Emergency Relief Fund is to provide help in the most efficient and effective way possible.

GOALS

Provide financial assistance to our Senior Centers as requested.
Provide financial assistance through “General Assistance” Grants to Cache Fire survivors.
Continue fundraising sufficient to carry out our efforts on a continuing basis for current and future emergencies; and to inform our donors of the work their donations make possible.