KELSEYVILLE— The Lake Family Resource Center (Lake FRC), a Kelseyville based nonprofit focusing on housing assistance, human trafficking resources and other services, is now overseeing operations of the Lakeport Senior Center following the unexplained departure of the center’s former executive director Jonathan Crooks.
“Seniors comprise almost 25% of Lake County’s overall population,” says Lake FRC Executive Director Lisa Morrow. “While undertaking such an expansion of services in the midst of a pandemic certainly presents its challenges, we are excited to now be serving this important section of our community—especially during these challenging times.”
According to a recent press release, the Lakeport Senior Center will remain its own separate nonprofit organization with Lake FRC managing its operations and administration through a contract. Denise Johnson, a lifetime resident of Lake County, will be its director of operations after Crooks left his post earlier this year. Calls inquiring the reasons behind Crook’s departure and other questions regarding the transition were not returned by press time.
Johnson has been with Lake FRC for almost four years functioning as the Housing Services Coordinator, a program she herself developed. Prior to that, she was employed by the District Attorney’s Office as a victim services advocate for elders experiencing abuse.
During pandemic restrictions, the Senior Center Wellness program continues with classes such as Tai Chi offered via Zoom. Meals on Wheels is still serving the Northshore and has expanded its services to also include those who previously joined the Senior Center for onsite dining.
Lucerne’s Alpine Senior Center continues to be closed. One of the reasons the facility closed in early summer according to manager Richard Radovic, was due to the Coronavirus and the Shelter in Place edict. The center is offering drive through food distributions during the week. The upcoming dates are August 11 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Thursday August 20 from 8 to 10 a.m. and Friday August 28 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. The Lucerne Alpine Center thrift store is now open Monday through Friday form 10 to 2 p.m.
Seniors interested in Wellness Zoom classes or those wanting to sign up for meal delivery should call the Lakeport Senior Center at (707) 263- 4218 or Lake FRC at (707) 279-0563.
The Meals on Wheels Thrift Store located in Lakeport is open. New thrift store hours will be Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 pm. Once it’s safe to do so, Lake Family Resource Center looks forward to reopening the Activities Center for group meals, a variety of Wellness classes and workshops and other gatherings, Lake FRC noted.
The Lake FRC director noted that the organization also looks forward to adding robust programming and services to reach out to and engage seniors in a variety of ways. “We not only look forward to continuing current programing, we’re excited about exploring additional programming. We envision support groups, more wellness activities as well as home visits for the seniors of Lake County,” says Morrow. She also wants to engage seniors as volunteers to rock infants and provide comfort to the youngest of the clients served by Lake FRC. “With the addition of the senior population to our clients, we are now extremely well-rounded, serving every facet of our community from Pre-K through Gray,” Morrow says light-heartedly. “This gives us an outstanding opportunity to enrich the lives of many community members of every age group.”
Lake FRC has been serving Lake County families since 1995 to achieve safe, sustainable, healthy families and community. A 501c3 nonprofit organization, most services are provided at no cost and are funded through government grants and community donations. Before this expansion, Lake FRC served approximately 1,400 families and 4,500 individuals each year.
If you are interested in learning more about Lake FRC and its programming or in making a contribution, please call (707) 279-0563 or log onto lakefrc.org.
