LAKEPORT >> With 500,000 pounds of clothing and tons of other items donated to Valley Fire victims and collected by various organizations, the sorting process alone can be daunting. But the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps hopes to accomplish the task, with the assistance of local volunteers.
The AmeriCorps NCCC team, Gold 2 is made up of 13 members ranging in age from 18-24 originating from across the country. They arrived Lake County on Nov. 7 and plan to work through Dec. 18 to help with post fire relief.
Lake County requested for the team to serve in the area two months after the fire. Working closely with Ted Mandrones, the community liaison for Lake County, as well as the dedicated volunteers who spearheaded the distribution sight, Gene and Lori Thornton and their daughter-in-law Sharon, the AmeriCorps NCCC team hopes to sort all of the donations at the warehouse on Work Right Circle in Lakeport as well as the many trucks still coming in from counties away.
“We started Monday after the fire and we’re here for the long haul,” said Lori Thorntan.
While many of the local distribution sites have ceased operations, Work Right Circle Valley Fire Relief Distribution Center continues to accept donations. The greatest needs in the coming months are for winter coats, boots, kitchen appliances and furniture as people begin to move back into their homes.
The AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) and its FEMA Corps units engage 2,800 young Americans in a fulltime, 10-month commitment to service each year
