With fewer corporate donations, local food bank Manna is struggling to fill the need for food for about 500 more families than last year.

Donations of holiday dinner items such as ham, turkey, fresh potatoes, yams, gravy, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls, pies and fresh vegetables are needed, director John Gorham said.

Cash and grocery store gift cards are also needed, he said.

Gorham said he's grateful for the volunteers who will be at the food bank, 3020 Crescent Way, to take donations today, Thursday, from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and Monday and Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Gorham, whose father just died, was recently released from the hospital after emergency surgery.

He's running the food bank from his cellphone.

Those mailing cash should send it to Manna, P.O. Box 1114, Thousand Oaks, 91362.

—Nancy Needham