A night full of fun and games and close friends has helped bring more food to Manna, the Conejo Valley’s food bank.

Local resident Tomas Kovar invited a group of 18 to his house for a potluck dinner and an evening of board games. The cost to participate: $10.

Then, after calling Manna and finding out what the food bank’s clients needed most, he took the $180 and a grocery store discount card and made some shrewd purchases. Two of his friends—Leon Pinsker and Bob Rosenberg— came with him. Each of the three grabbed a shopping cart.

“We bought mostly canned goods and cereals,” Kovar said.

In no time, they had three carts full. Much of what they purchased was on sale and almost everything was the store’s own brand. It came to close to $300 worth, but after the discount card, the cost was just about $180, he said.

“It was easy, it was fun and it made a difference. I want other people to know about this so they can get ideas on what they can do,” Kovar said.

—Nancy Needham