Manna’s cupboards are bare again

Food collection a year-round necessity


JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers SUPPLIES  LOW- Volunteer Monica  Norton  restocks  the empty shelves at Manna.

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers SUPPLIES LOW- Volunteer Monica Norton restocks the empty shelves at Manna.


Santa Claus came early to the Manna Food Bank in Thousand Oaks this year. He didn’t fly on a sled from the North Pole, but came from Agoura Hills and delivered $600 in goods from Costco to keep food on the shelves for a weekend earlier this month.

Manna executive director John Gorham recently found his cupboards bare after a pair of food drives failed to deliver as expected. He started making phone calls seeking help.

Optimist Club President George Annino, the founder of Santa Comes to Agoura food drive, answered the call. Using a donation from a kind-hearted family friend, Annino bought about 50 cases of canned fruit and vegetables to help tide the food bank over.

About 200 people were fed after family members went to Manna and asked for assistance June 13 and 14, Gorham said. Now the shelves are bare again and the food bank is desperate for donations of food or cash.

But those who came that weekend needed only to present themselves and show they qualified for help by having low incomes or a hardship, Gorham said. Then they were matched with a volunteer, given a shopping cart and directed to a room set up with shelves of food- pies, cakes, meat, milk, eggs, bread, canned goods, baby food and fresh produce.

“Nobody is turned away,” Gorham said.

Local grocery stores donate food, charities donate cash and volunteers donate time. But lately, food drives haven’t brought in what they once did.

“Last year one food drive brought in about 80 boxes. This year I went to pick it up and they had worked hard, but had only collected six boxes,” Gorham said.

Holidays in December bring the largest quantities to the food bank, but summer months bring in the most clients. Many of them have children- who usually are fed with free school lunches- at home waiting for a meal, he explained.

“This is our toughest time of year,” he said.

What would help greatly is if people would bring in the fruit hanging on the trees in their yards.

“Please let people know bringing us the fruit from their trees would be a tremendous help to us,” Gorham said. Vegetables from home gardens are also gratefully accepted.

Canned goods, especially vegetables such as green beans, corn or tomatoes are needed along with cans of chili. Those donating canned or packaged items do need to check the expiration dates, Gorham said, because Manna can’t give out expired food.

Annino had high praise for the food bank director.

“John Gorham is doing a phenomenal job with Manna. He’s made a lot of changes for the better in the way that organization is run. Those who can should send cash directly to Manna to help feed the hungry,” he said.

Even though their client list has doubled, the food bank is receiving less food and donations.

“With the economy and fuel prices, people have less to give,” Gorham said.

If things continue, the food bank expects to end the year about $30,000 in the red even though some supporters, such as National Charity League, have been very generous, he said.

A 58-year-old woman, who didn’t want to be identified by name, was at Manna picking up groceries for her family. Since her divorce, she said, she spends a lot of time taking care of her special needs child, making it hard for her to get a job that pays better than her current one.

Her family doesn’t go to the movies or spend money on anything but necessities, she said. When she goes to Manna and gets groceries, her children think she’s at a regular grocery store. It’s the only way she can put food on her table, she said.

“Without Manna I would have to decide between paying rent or buying food.”

Patti Martins, 46, is a single mom and volunteers at Manna. She is also a client.

“I lived in Thousand Oaks for 20 years and never knew this place existed,” Martins said.

She teaches lifesaving courses and her business has been down lately.

“I guess saving lives is not as important when the economy is down.”

As Martins spoke, she continued to help a man fill his cart with groceries. She spoke kindly to him and helped him make nutritious choices.

There was a constant flow of clients waiting for their turn to get groceries. The cans purchased by Annino steadily disappeared along with other goods.

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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