Gualala Community Center History
The Gualala Community Center was founded in 1954, by a group of volunteers. These volunteers built a small community building to hold meetings, dances, plays, and community activities.
The original building was lost to an arson fire on February 14, 2023. We are now rebuilding a facility that will take our community into the future. Click here for more Rebuilding Updates.
The Gualala Community Center funds college scholarships, and underwrite community activities including Coastal Seniors Tuesday Lunches, three local food banks (Annapolis, Gualala, Point Arena), Project Santa, a local Farmers Market, public meetings including Gualala Municipal Advisory Committee (GMAC). We also provide clothing, household items, and furniture to people who have emergency needs. To fund our mission, we resell new and used items that have been donated to our program Pay ‘n’ Take.
The Gualala Community Center is a Registered non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization, managed by a Board of Directors, each elected to a two-year term.
As always, your support is greatly appreciated.
News
Letter of Support from the Timber Cove Fire FPD
The Two Fish Fundraiser made $5,600! Thank you Margaret and Hilla.
An Update from the GCC President
October 9, 2024
The Gualala Community Center Board is proud to announce the launch of a capital campaign to rebuild the Community Center. The GCC has received $30,000 from Sonoma Clean Power to support rebuilding an energy-efficient facility. With the matching fund challenge of $100,000 from the Community Center Board, utilizing Pay-n-Take revenue, and $40,000 from the Gualala Lions Club, the campaign is in full swing.
Join in the fun of our kickoff fundraising event with a fantastic Pizza Party at TwoFish on Friday, October 25 (see the flyer below)—a big thank you to Margaret and Hilla for hosting this dinner.
The Federal Community Project grant, supported by Congressman Huffman, is currently pending congressional review and final approval. On the state level, the 2nd District State Assembly candidates have pledged to use all available resources to seek out grant opportunities and provide assistance in securing funding. These opportunities could significantly impact our community, as they are primarily focused on restoring the community center as a viable resiliency facility to support the coastal region during any catastrophic event.
In September, the Rebuilding fund received over $12,000 from private donations. We are deeply grateful for these generous contributions from the community. Your support has brought us closer to our fundraising goal, and we want to express our heartfelt thanks for your continued commitment to rebuilding the Gualala Community Center.
Gualala Lions Donation Boost
On Tuesday, August 27, Gualala Lions Club members voted to donate $40,000 to the rebuilding fund of the Gualala Community Center. The donations come from a fund established nearly 50 years ago, with money generated by one of the first Gualala Lions projects. The club’s Charter President, the late John J. Bower, donated a lot from the Ocean Ridge subdivision to the club for building and selling a house. Two Lions, the late R. T. Andersen and his son Robert L. ‘Butch’ Andersen, stepped up and, with the help of several other Lions, made that house a reality. Funds from the sale were invested by the club, and today, they amount to a substantial sum.
Lion President Chuck Cappotto said his club hopes many other individuals and local organizations will match the Lions’ donation to complete this community project successfully.
Do you have questions or suggestions? Please contact us.
Gualala Community Center
47950 Center Street, PO Box 263
Gualala, CA 95445
(707) 884-3179