Local food pantry needs donations

Since school ended about two weeks ago, children who received free breakfast and lunch meals from the school system are now at home throughout the day.

"The burden to feed them falls on parents who can't afford the extra food," said John Rak, regional resource development director for Catholic Charities in Ventura County. So these parents have been coming to the Moorpark Food Pantry more often to fill the gap and this created a shortage of food items here, he said.

"We are low on food," said Patricia Calderon, who manages the local pantry which feeds about 300 families every month. "We need donations really bad."

Calderon said that peanut butter, jelly, dry pinto beans, rice and cereals are some of the most needed items. Milk and eggs would also be appreciated because food prices have gone up, she said, adding the pantry has a refrigerator to store perishable foods.

The Moorpark Food Pantry is open on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon.

It is located at 609 Fitch Ave. in downtown Moorpark, behind the Police Services Center.

- Sylvie Belmond