Don't give money if you see someone on a street in Thousand Oaks with a sign saying they're homeless and hungry; that's the advice of homeless advocate Diana Ortuno.

"Money goes to something else, not food," Ortuno said.

Keep McDonalds or restaurant coupons handy to give out instead, she said.

Ortuno, a Lutheran Social Services employee, runs the winter shelter for the homeless in Thousand Oaks.

During the summer months she runs a meal program at a different house of worship each night of the week where those in need may have dinner. Beginning on Monday, it becomes an overnight program.

Volunteers throughout the city organize dinners and bring food to a different religious facility each day of the week. About 20 people are coming to the dinners, Ortuno said.

The homeless in Thousand Oaks also go to the Lutheran Social Services office at 80 E. Hillcrest Drive, Ste. 101, where Ortuno and her associates offer them comfort along with a place to send mail, pick up phone messages, shower, do laundry and eat lunch. A computer is set up for them to receive e-mail and look for work.

Residents who want to donate money, to be used for the homeless or for gas vouchers for transportation to work, can send checks made out to LSS to the above address in care of Ortuno, she said.

"We also could use donations of men's underwear, socks and deodorant," she said.

Walk-in times for LSS are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon. Clients may be seen by appointment Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information, call Ortuno at (805) 497-6207 or e-mail dortuno@lsssc.org.