LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – They come out at all hours of the day and night to search for people who are lost or to support law enforcement with other critical operations.

Now, Lake County Search and Rescue is asking for the community's assistance as it seeks to raise funds to support its mission of community service and to help one of its move valued members with recovery from an injury.

The Lake County Search and Rescue Association is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization that helps to find lost and missing persons on a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week basis. They come out rain or shine, every day of the year, holidays included.

Search and rescue is a good cause, involving hard work, usually done in the dark of night in inclement weather and often in very rough terrain.

They are involved in searches of the county's rural neighborhoods for lost or missing children and adults, but most often when they get a call, they know they're headed for the higher climbs and rough terrain.   

One of Lake County Search and Rescue's popular members is search dog “Biscuit.”

Biscuit was injured in the line of duty, and Search and Rescue is trying to help raise funds to defray the $5,000 costs for surgery and rehabilitation.

Funds the group can raise also will help purchase cold weather gear for K-Corp, a Kelseyville High School student volunteer class.

While interest in joining is high among Lake County citizens, gear costs associated with membership can be prohibitive, and the group believes its ranks would grow if those financial burdens could be alleviated.

Search and Rescue is reaching out to organizations and individuals for support, and recently received a $500 donation from the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake.

Donations can be sent to Lake County Search and Rescue at P.O. Box 812, Lakeport, CA 95453. No amount is too small.

To learn more about the Lake County Search and Rescue Association and find out how you can support the organization, contact Jim Steele, president, at 707-998-1302.