As of February 6, 2026, the Gualala Community Center has 277 paid memberships for the new year, and we are grateful for every person who has already renewed. Membership support is the foundation that keeps GCC active, connected, and able to serve our coastal community.

Many members have not yet renewed, and we warmly invite you to join us again for the coming year. Memberships help GCC continue its work supporting local scholarships for high school seniors, providing funds to three local food banks, and sustaining community programs made possible through Pay ’n’ Take and the generosity of volunteers and donors.

For more than 70 years, GCC has depended on neighbors helping neighbors. Membership dues, Pay ’n’ Take proceeds, and volunteer efforts work together to keep our organization strong while we rebuild the Community Center and continue serving the community.

If you have not yet renewed, we hope you will consider doing so today.
How to Renew Your Membership

• Print and complete the membership form below
• Mail it with your check to:
  Gualala Community Center
  P.O. Box 263
  Gualala, CA 95445
• You can also pay online on our Membership Page

Or drop off your form and payment:

• Any Tuesday morning during Pay ’n’ Take processing hours
• First and Third Saturdays during the Pay ’n’ Take sale

​Your membership helps keep GCC thriving and ensures we can continue supporting scholarships, food banks, community events, and the rebuilding of our Community Center.
Thank you for being part of the Gualala Community Center community.

​GUALALA, CA — February 4, 2026 — Representative, Reef Atwell-Smith from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Office met Wednesday with members of the Gualala Community Center (GCC) Board of Directors, the GCC Building Committee, administrative staff, and project supporters to conduct an on-site visit of the proposed location for the new Community Center building.

The site visit provided an opportunity for USDA representatives to better understand the scope of the rebuilding project and the location, size, and scale of the future facility. Members of the GCC Building Committee walked the site with attendees, outlining where the new structure will be constructed and explaining how the design aligns with the Build Local Plan, which was approved by GCC members through a community vote in September 2025.
The USDA grant supporting the rebuilding of the Gualala Community Center has already been awarded. The February 4 site visit is part of the process required to meet specific qualifications for the disbursement of grant funds. GCC representatives met with Reef Atwell-Smith, Rural Development representative from the USDA’s Santa Rosa office, who will guide GCC through the documentation and reporting requirements needed for grant release.

In preparation for the rebuild, GCC has been making steady progress on required planning and permitting milestones. Plans for the new building were submitted to the Mendocino County Building Department in November 2025, with revisions and electrical plans resubmitted in January 2026 following plan check comments. A grading permit was approved in December 2025, property boundary surveying has been completed, and soil engineering consultations and foundation reviews were submitted in January 2026.
Design professionals are also refining interior plans to better serve community needs, including updates to the kitchen and office areas, the addition of an ADA-compliant restroom, classroom space, a conference room, and a shower to support disaster and emergency use. Planning is underway to coordinate water connections with the Gualala Water Company.
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GCC representatives expressed appreciation for the USDA’s engagement and for the continued support of community members who have contributed time, expertise, and resources to move the project forward. Updates on the rebuilding process will continue to be shared with the public as additional milestones are reached.

Below is the letter from the Gualala Community Center (GCC) Board regarding their decision and future impacts of making GCC a permanent home for Coastal Seniors.

We are excited to announce that the membership vote has selected the Build Local Plan as the design for the new Gualala Community Center. This plan was created by a dedicated team of local professionals who generously donated their time, expertise, and skills — saving GCC significant costs and ensuring the project reflects our community values.

At the recent Board meeting, members celebrated this important milestone and heard updates on demolition progress, which has been made possible by the extraordinary contributions of volunteers and community members.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone who voted, volunteered, and supported this process. Together, we are moving closer to a new Community Center that will serve Gualala for generations to come.

 Click the links below to read the letter from the Board President and resolution:

• Letter to Membership from Board President
• Resolution and Poll Results

​The demolition of the burn site at GCC is nearly complete. Thanks to the leadership of Ray Feeney — who generously funded hired help in addition to his own volunteer work — and an all-volunteer crew who gave their time over Labor Day weekend, much of the hidden debris such as pipes, concrete chunks, and other materials has been removed.

There is still work to be done under the Demolition Permit, and every helping hand makes a difference. If you have time to volunteer or would like to learn more, please reach out to our Board Chair, Janet Pierucci, at 805-845-8989 or [email protected].
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Together, we’re clearing the way for the future of the Gualala Community Center.