Readers rise to the challenge

We have the greatest readers in the world and here's the proof: In the Sept. 27 Thousand Oaks Acorn we alerted our read ers that the shelves of the nonprofit food bank Manna were empty. Manna serves Conejo Valley residents who don't have enough money to buy groceries, but it found itself without enough volunteers to help or food to feed hungry families who needed assistance.

No one in need was turned away, but they took less home and the scanty resources were spread out so that everyone got something.

Then the newspaper hit driveways. Generous, kindhearted people picked it up and got right to work. Manna's phones began ringing. The group's e-mail box filled up. Manna director John Gorham still hasn't had a chance to open 30 e-mails with the subject: "Volunteer Help."

Volunteers poured in and within a week 15 new full-time helpers were sorting and stocking. Readers brought in grocery bags full of food. The front pantry, where families shop, is filled.

When Gorham went to the post office, he found a stack of checks waiting instead of the five or six he usually gets in a month. The money buys perishable items, such as meat, milk and butter. Ground beef and chicken are popular items, and sometimes pantry buys eggs.

Families who were used to going away with a limited quantity were very excited to see bags filled up for them. Each received almost twice as much as they did over the summer when donations were low and need was high.

Still, there is a need for cooking oil, jellies and jams, along with canned fruits and vegetables. Even with the great increase in donations, if they suddenly stopped the shelves would be bare in about two weeks, Gorham said.

Manna passes food on when possible to other organizations serving the hungry, such as Catholic Charities, Lutheran Social Services. Due to Manna's good fortune, homeless people are able to have a meal while waiting to take a shower or do laundry at Lutheran Social Services. Sometimes it is their only meal. Though the shelves at Lutheran Social Services are still pretty bare, they hold more than the can of cherry pie filling that had been standing there alone.

Manna's staff hopes the generosity continues through the holidays. They are thinking about turkeys and more turkeys, so that each family could have one of those big birds with their holiday dinner.

Manna accepts refrigerated or frozen meat and foods, canned and boxed goods, toiletries and baby items, cash, checks and supermarket scrip. Send monetary donations to P.O. Box 1114, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 or bring goods to Manna, 3020 Crescent Way, T.O. A list of specific needs is available by calling or e-mailing Manna at (805) 497-4959 and MannaConejo@aol.com.