The Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks is trying to raise $100,000 as part of a massive campaign to purchase a new building for Manna. Manna is a Conejo Valley food bank that has been providing food assistance to friends and neighbors in need since 1971. The Rotary Club is hoping to inspire Rotarians throughout the district to contribute by making a tax-deductible contribution through the Thousand Oaks club’s foundation.
Info about the current home:
• Currently serving about 1,000 people a month in a pantry the size of a single-car garage.
• Our facility has difficulty managing the more than 1,900 annual food drives.
• We now rent warehouse space to hold much of our non-perishable food donations.
• We have limited parking for clients, donors, volunteers and staff.
• EVERYTHING happens at the front door!
• Limited volunteer opportunities due to inadequate outdoor lighting.
• Currently serving about 1,000 people a month in a pantry the size of a single-car garage.
• Our facility has difficulty managing the more than 1,900 annual food drives.
• We now rent warehouse space to hold much of our non-perishable food donations.
• We have limited parking for clients, donors, volunteers and staff.
• EVERYTHING happens at the front door!
• Limited volunteer opportunities due to inadequate outdoor lighting.
What will the new building bring:
Close to 5,000 square feet of pantry, food storage & sorting, meeting and office space. We have purchased the building at 95 N. Oakview Drive, in Thousand Oaks; a facility that will be 4.5 times larger than our current one.• We will triple the size of the Pantry and install commercial coolers that can handle larger donations.
• A comfortable and inviting client intake and waiting area.
• On-site storage and inventory management for highly variable food stock and selections.
• Pantry design that allows for efficient client flow.
• Covered, secure food delivery area.
• Commercial cold storage.
• Staff office space.
• Meeting space for volunteer trainings, client cooking classes and staff and board meetings.
What will our new home mean for those in need?
• Double the frequency of food distribution to pantry clients from once to twice per month.
• Extend pantry distribution days and hours to accommodate clients who work.
• Serve more clients in the pantry at any given time.
• Reduce stress and support the dignity of our clients with shorter waiting times and an environment that is sensitive to their emotional as well as basic needs.
• Double the frequency of food distribution to pantry clients from once to twice per month.
• Extend pantry distribution days and hours to accommodate clients who work.
• Serve more clients in the pantry at any given time.
• Reduce stress and support the dignity of our clients with shorter waiting times and an environment that is sensitive to their emotional as well as basic needs.
What does this mean for the community?
• More relief to families, seniors and disabled persons who struggle with hunger.
• More volunteer opportunities for students, families and adults.
• More partnerships with other non-profits in the Conejo.
• Less useable food being sent to the landfill.
• Less homelessness.
• Greater feeling of satisfaction and wellbeing for doing good.
• More relief to families, seniors and disabled persons who struggle with hunger.
• More volunteer opportunities for students, families and adults.
• More partnerships with other non-profits in the Conejo.
• Less useable food being sent to the landfill.
• Less homelessness.
• Greater feeling of satisfaction and wellbeing for doing good.
Capital Campaign Update:
• 70% to goal!
• Over $1.7 million committed in cash and pledges.
• Multiple six-figure gifts being considered.
• Over $400,000 in grant requests pending.
• Architectural designs in final stage of production.
• Anticipate entering the permit stage with the City of TO in June 2018.
• Anticipate beginning renovations early 2019.
• Anticipated move-in late summer 2019.
• 70% to goal!
• Over $1.7 million committed in cash and pledges.
• Multiple six-figure gifts being considered.
• Over $400,000 in grant requests pending.
• Architectural designs in final stage of production.
• Anticipate entering the permit stage with the City of TO in June 2018.
• Anticipate beginning renovations early 2019.
• Anticipated move-in late summer 2019.
For more information and to inquire about donating, Rotarians can contact:
Chris Lamia
(805) 494-3416 x 111
Checks should be made payable to "Thousand Oaks Rotary Foundation," reference "Manna Grant" in the memo section, and mailed to Chris Lamia at:
Lamia Financial Group, Inc.
100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. #200
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360