Over 300 Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Boy Scout Explorer Crews will descend upon neighborhoods on February 27 as they collect donated food to stock local food pantry, MANNA. With many Conejo Valley families facing the challenge of putting food on their tables, this food drive could not come at a better time. Demand for food surged over the holidays, depleting food pantry shelves. Families are not only challenged to meet other financial obligations, but feed their families as the pandemic’s strain continues.
Last year, nearly 350 scouts gathered 55,000 pounds of food, investing approximately five hours to distribute flyers, grocery bags, and conduct the food collection. Nearly 130 adults assisted in the successful food drive. The local scout council is hoping that, while they may have fewer scouts participating this year, they will exceed last year’s donations to feed even more local families.
“Giving community service is one of the most important things we do in Scouting. We will be celebrating 100 years of Scouting this year with over 3,000 local scouts who have been in the program and contributing nearly 11,000 hours of community service during that time,” said Andrea McClellan, Senior Development and Marketing Director for Boy Scouts of America, Ventura County Council.
Those wishing to participate in this food collection drive should be on the lookout for an informational flyer appearing on doorsteps the week before the food drive. Donated nonperishable goods may be placed in boxes or bags, in view of the street for easy collection. Glass containers, perishable, damaged and expired foods are strongly discouraged.Items missed for this collection may be donated directly to MANNA and welcomed by other food pantries as well.
MANNA, located in “Old Town” Thousand Oaks, is thrilled to receive this year’s Boy Scout contributions. Their mission, for over 40 years, has been to ensure that no person goes hungry in the Conejo Valley. The local food pantry served over 1,400 people monthly prior to the pandemic and has seen demand rise quickly as more families face economic challenges. The non-profit relies almost entirely on private food and financial donations from organizations, businesses and individuals to meet local needs. Grocers, including Trader Joe, Albertson’s, Ralphs and Costco help meet the need for fresh baked goods, fruits and vegetables.
Recognizing that seniors are also feeling the pandemic pinch, Senior Concerns’ Meals on Wheels program launched their new food pantry and is also working hard to fill their shelves. This non-profit is known for delivering meals with some social connection to seniors and has added delivery of nonperishable household essentials, including food, cleaning products and personal care items, to this underserved population.
Neftin Westlake-Mazda continues to support the Meals on Meals program with its annual Love Run. However, this year, the run will be virtual and runs (pun intended) the entire month of February to make a difference for local seniors. Runners and walkers may “virtually” cover a variety of distances for a small registration fee. The virtual runs even include pet registration as well as some great participant perks. For more information on this fundraiser, go to http://www.loverunwestlake.com.
Non-profits are not alone in efforts to serve the community. Churches are feeding more than local souls, they are filling stomachs with their food pantries. A few churches with food pantries include First Christian Church and The Bridge in Newbury Park. In Thousand Oaks, Ascension Lutheran Church, Christian Church of Thousand Oaks’ Feed My Sheep Program, and St. Paschal Baylon-Vincent de Paul provide food for those in need.
Pantry clients truly appreciate the many local food resources. However, some clients are not only dealing with food insecurity, but the challenges of digestive issues and food sensitivities due to celiac disease or food allergies. Many food pantries are working hard to include gluten-free and allergy-friendly food, but because gluten-free products are 2-4 times more costly than regular grocery items, they are rarely found on pantry shelves.
Desired Food Pantry Items:
Canned Tuna & Salmon
Canned Meat, i.e. chicken and Spam
Mac & Cheese
Pre-Made Meals, i.e. Hamburger Helper & Chef Boyardee
Canned Pasta
Canned Stew
Canned Chili
Peanut Butter
Jelly & Jams
Canned Vegetables
Canned Fruit
Cereal (Hot & cold)
Soup (Cans or mixes)
Boxed Rice
Boxed Pasta
Seasonings, Sauces & Condiments
Juices & Juice Boxes (Cranberry, apple, etc.)
Shelf-stable milk (Horizon, almond)
Snacks (Cookies, including sugar-free cookies, nuts and small chocolates)
Gluten-free & allergy-friendly foods
Cash and gift card donations are also welcome!
Pantry shelves are emptying as quickly as they are filled and families are desperate to stave off the pains of hunger. By joining together, Conejo Valley residents can help the Boy Scouts, MANNA, Meals on Wheels and our local churches to eliminate local hunger while helping each other.
Photos were taken pre-covid.
