Founded in 1971 by a group of people who felt that no person should ever go hungry in the Conejo Valley, Manna Conejo Valley Food Bank has been providing food assistance to our friends and neighbors in need for more than 40 years; and have made it our mission — “To feed hungry people in the Conejo Valley”.
Manna is situated in a 700 square-foot house in the “Old Town” area of Thousand Oaks, and serves, on average, more than 1,400 people per month. With holiday distribution programs, we help over 20,000 people each year throughout the 101 corridor cities from the Calabasas Grade to the Conejo Grade. Unlike many food pantries in the area, Manna is not formally affiliated with any religious organization, nor are we federally funded in any way. In fact, Manna exists almost entirely on private donations of food and funding. More than 95% of the food Manna distributes each year is donated by organizations, businesses and individuals from around the Conejo Valley. Funding is provided through generous donors and grant writing efforts.
With 1 in 5 people facing hunger issues on a daily basis, Manna has taken a strong stance against hunger in the Conejo Valley. There is no quick fix to the issue of food insecurity, but with unified dedication from our grocery partners, donors and a caring public, Manna is providing the support our friends and neighbors need. There are no easy solutions to the reality of food poverty, but there are immediate steps and long-term strategies that can make a lasting impact on the people we serve. With strong relationships between retail partners, donors and the community Manna can respond to the needs of the Conejo Valley’s most vulnerable citizens.
Additionally, by educating businesses, elected officials and individuals about the realities of hunger in our area we can strengthen the hunger safety net by improving access to quality food and valuable resources. We invite you to join us in our quest, where “Neighbor Feeding Neighbor” is a daily reality.
Darin Arrasmith – President – Broker, Newbridge Real Estate Services
Aaron Podell – Vice President – VP Services Manager, Pacific Western Bank
Jane Rosner – Secretary – Doctor, West Valley Hearing Center
Russell Smith – Treasurer – CFO/Business Consulting
Veronica Ellias – Past President – Laritech, Inc
Karen Ingram – Director – Retired, Community Services, Lanterman Regional Center
Cameron Parton – Director – Food Services Director, La Reina High School
Kyle Lundberg – Director – Financial Advisor, Edward Jones
David Masci – Director - Attorney, Law Office of Masci and Masci
Beth McClure – Director - SVP, Marketing, Beachy
Leanne Portzel – Executive Director
No, you do not need a referral to visit Manna. Come by on one of our regular “client” days (Tue 9:30-2:30, Thurs 9:30-3:30, Sat 9:30-12:30). You can call us at 805-497-4959 with any questions.
You need to bring your picture ID showing your Conejo Valley address. If you are new to the area, you should bring a utility bill or something similar that shows your Conejo Valley address.
Manna is a non-profit agency and we are required to maintain records for the work we do. We receive funding from a variety of sources that ask us how many people we serve each year and your file helps us provide this information. In addition to the number of people we serve, we may be asked to provide the following information: ages, gender, household income, # of people with disabilities, the number of new clients we see each year, the total number of people helped each year (which includes those who receive food more than once) and the number of meals or bags of food provided. We never tell them your name or any other personal information.
No, but please bring a translator as few of our volunteers speak Spanish.
You can visit Manna once every 14 days.
Manna always provides you with non-perishable items such as cereal, soup, canned meats, rice, beans, canned fruits and vegetables. Manna also provides perishable items such as bread, butter, cheese and frozen meats, whenever they are available. Baby food, diapers and toiletries may also be available. We do not provide medicine, alcohol, prepared foods or heated meals.
Manna relies on donations for non-perishable items that you receive. These donations come from individuals, community groups, churches & synagogues. Whatever they collect is what will be available to share with you.
