LUCERNE – The nonprofit Lake County Foundation (LCF) plans to open in its new home in Lucerne Monday, March 3.

They will be in the former Curves space on Highway 20 at the corner of 11th Avenue.

The building is owned by Dr. Bob Gardner, chairman of the foundation board. Executive Director Randy Djernes said Gardner, who has a medical office in Lucerne, is donating the space to the foundation initially.

LCF has been operating on Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake, but has lost its lease from the Lake County Community Action Agency.

The foundation will provide crisis and emergency help to people referred by health care providers or other service agencies, Djernes said.

It also will provide low-cost meeting space for 12-step groups and other nonprofit organizations, and will operate a thrift shop and food pantry, as well as classes in nurturing-parenting, co-dependency, yoga for stress reduction and more.

She added, “We try not to duplicate the services of other agencies,” and does not feel the thrift shop will compete with the one at Lucerne Alpine Senior Center.

“They are one of our referring agencies,” she said.

LCF has received a $25,000 grant from Snite Foundation in Illinois, and other grants from Redbud Community Health Care District and PSI World High Valley Ranch.

Gardner has described the foundation's goal as being a “community chest” to keep local money in the community to distribute to local nonprofits. LCF has reported setting aside $8,000 for renovations at the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center, following urgently needed roof repairs there.

LCF, in partnership with PSI World, raised $8,000 for renovations at the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center, following urgently needed roof repairs there.

Djernes said Monday they have given part of the money to the senior center and are holding the rest until the roof repairs are done. Then they will paint and do other work, "bringing in 100 people," she said.

The Lake County Board of Supervisors, sitting as the Lake County Redevelopment Agency Board of Directors, voted in January to spend about $4000 of redevelopment funds for urgent repairs, and another $30,000 to finish the job after the rainy season.

E-mail Sophie Annan Jensen at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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