CLEARLAKE >> A local group is looking for a few — scratch that — a lot of good men and women to help the people left in need following the Clayton Fire that destroyed or damaged a large part of Lower Lake.
In an effort to attract more workers, the non-profit group North Coast Opportunities (NCO) opened a temporary volunteer recruitment center Thursday at the Church of the Nazarene in Clearlake. It was expected to remain open through today.
“We decided to open a place where we can better assess volunteers’ skills and match them with the needs,” said Traci Boyl, volunteer coordinator for NCO.
At the center, Boyl gets a chance to talk to potential volunteers about their interests and skills.
And for those who don’t think they have any talents to offer, Boyl has a reply. “Everyone has skills,” she said. “If you love art, maybe you can teach an art therapy class. We have opportunities for everyone.”
Boyl recruited seven volunteers in the first two hours the center was open. In the past few days, NCO has gained about 100 people who registered to be volunteers after the start of the Clayton Fire on Aug. 13.
NCO acts as a “middle man” to connect registered volunteers with other groups that are seeking workers.
For example, a woman came into the center not knowing if she wanted to volunteer because she didn’t believe she had any needed skills. She was registered and assigned to help another non-profit with food distribution to Clayton Fire survivors.
“Most people come in without any idea of how they can help, just that they want to help,” Boyl said.
Once registered, volunteers receive daily email updates that list new volunteering opportunities. Common tasks include distributing food, clothing and toiletries, construction and sorting donations.
There is one position that there is a great and immediate need for: certified counselors to do spirituality counseling, Boyl said.
Also, the evacuation shelters have needs that change daily, even hourly, Boyl added.
Many of the people registering to volunteer for Clayton did volunteer work after last year’s deadly Valley Fire that swept through Cobb, Hidden Valley Lake and Middletown.
“People have really stepped up,” Boyl said, adding that many of the volunteers are Valley Fire survivors. “They came in to help because they know what it’s like to go through this.”
Volunteers are also coming from outside Lake County, including Sacramento and the Bay Area. “We have people who come up here for the weekend just to volunteer,” Boyl said.
She also said that as with the Valley Fire, Clayton survivors, especially evacuees, are going to need assistance for weeks or months to come.
“The need for volunteers is ongoing; beyond today, beyond tomorrow,” Boyl said.
She said she is concerned that when the fire is contained, the rush to volunteer will slow.
“As soon as we’re out of the news, people tend to forget about us,” Boyl added.
The temporary volunteer recruitment center is at the Nazarene Church at 15917 Olympic Dr., Clearlake, from 10 a.m to 7 p.m. through today although Boyl said the closing date is “not set in stone” and will depend on community response.
NCO’s volunteer hotline is (707) 467-3236.
