Giveaways in south County this weekend
More than half a million dollars of goods to be distributed at 2 locations
LAKE COUNTY >> Three entities are coordinating to hold fire relief and COVID-19 assistance in Middletown at Twin Pines Casino today and at Austin Park in Clearlake tomorrow. Both events are scheduled for noon to 3 p.m.
Elijah House Lakeport, Worldwide Healing Hands, and Adventist Health Clear Lake are collaborating to bring about this event. Matthew 25 Ministries and Angels Among Us out of Ohio, partnered to send two 60-foot semi trucks full of pallets of personal and household items such as baby diapers, shavers, shampoo and hair conditioner, batteries, clothes detergent, among others.
Gary Deas, former Mr. Lake County and onsite manager of Elijah House Lakeport, spearheaded the giveaway, which quickly grew to to include, “More than half a million dollars of goods, too much for any Mr. Lake County to handle,” Deas said laughing at how much coordination it has taken to bring the giveaway to fruition.
The two semi trucks, too big to drive through the tunnel on Whalen Way to Elijah House Lakeport (EHL), off-loaded 90 pallets on the roadside last month. Volunteers and residents from EHL helped Deas transport the pallets EHL for storage.
Kelseyville Lumber is supplying a truck to transport the items to both giveaway locations.
“We are thrilled to receive and hand out these items to our community. Many community members impacted by fires and the pandemic are without some of the most basic personal and household items,” said Paula Dhanda, Worldwide Healing Hands. “I appreciate the generosity of our partners in this event and how we can come together to aid our Lake County friends.”
“Finding space to accommodate a drive-thru event was no easy task,” Deas said. “Middletown Rancheria’s Pomo Indians of California is allowing us to use their parking lot for the drive-thru and the City of Clear Lake is letting us use Austin Park. Both are free of charge.”
The idea for the giveaway began with one phone simple call to Matthew 25 Ministries, Deas said, and it has now taken “Over 100 phone calls and over hundred hours of work already before the giveaway has even started.”
He added, “I would like to say how great it has been that when we needed help with partnering with people to help move and distribute this stuff that the community came together. Over the years Lake County has been hit hard with fires floods and now the COVID-19. This load from Matthew’s Ministry was a grant for counties that had fires in them. we are working to have more loads like this come to Lake County. I just feel blessed to be part of all this.”
Approximately 50 volunteers will help to hand out the items this weekend, which will follow guidelines set by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to keep volunteers and the public safe. Volunteers will wear masks as well as the community members who will need to remain in their vehicles, masked.
“Events such as these giveaways,” said Lacey Deas, project coordinator for Adventist Health Clear Lake, “are in line with Adventist Health mission and vision. Collaboration and partnerships are key in Lake County.
Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Lacey Deas at deaslm@ah.org
Twin Pine Casino is located at 22223 S. Highway 29, Middletown. Austin Park is located at 14077 Lakeshore Drive, Clearlake. Noon-3P.M.