Donations fill Manna shelves as food, cash keep rolling in





When the call went out that Manna, the local food bank, was low on food and filled with hungry clients, many people responded with cash and food.

Bags, baskets and buckets of fresh fruit and garden vegetables began to arrive immediately, executive director John Gorham said.

“These fruits and vegetables from local yards and gardens taste better than anything you can buy at a store,” Gorham said.

He is pleased the food bank’s clients are getting such wonderful food. He is as excited and relieved to get the fresh food as those who came in to donate were excited and relieved to give, he said.

“Lots of people said they were happy to find a place for their fruit that usually would just go to waste,” he said.

Some people took an abundance of plums home to can, he said.

Canned goods and other food products had also been donated and helped to fill the shelves and feed those in need.

“We were giving our clients less food to make sure everyone would leave with something. Now everyone is leaving with the full amount. All the carts are full of nutritious food for their families,” Gorham said.

About $7,000 worth of cash was given to Manna by individuals who wanted to help out.

“The cash and food is a direct result of the Acorn article and George Annino’s quote telling people to give us money,” Gorham said.

Annino, Optimist Club president and the founder of Santa Comes to Agoura food drive, came to the food bank’s rescue earlier this summer when he learned about the empty shelves. More food is needed in the summer for lowincome families whose children are out of school for summer vacation. During the school year, the students are able to eat breakfast and lunch provided by school programs.

“Now we just need to keep it up,” Gorham said of the donations.

What he hopes will happen is groups throughout the area- Manna serves Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Westlake Village, Agoura Hills and Calabasas- will organize food drives and keep the supplies coming all year, Gorham said.

Those who would like to volunteer or donate to Manna at 3020 Crescent Way, just south of Thousand Oaks Boulevard, can call (805) 497-4959.


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