Moorpark College students and other community members may now pick up free food every Thursday on campus.

In a partnership with Bags of Hope, a volunteer organization, and FOOD Share, a countywide food pantry, the college has become a regular food distribution point.

Sharon Manakas, college’s student health coordinator, had seen the need and was able to act upon it when receiving a call from David Nelson, co-founder and head of Bags of Hope.

“Over the years, we have noticed students who are homeless who are living in their cars, couch surfing as you would call it, so the need had been there,” said Manakas. “Then I received a call from David Nelson from Bags of Hope and he had said he reached out to FOOD Share and asked where in Moorpark is there a need, and they replied, ‘the college.’”

Since that phone call, Manakas and Nelson have worked together. Manakas worked with college administrators, including President Luis Sanchez, to allow the college to serve as a food distribution location. After that, Bags Of Hope was able to get Food Share on board.

Food distribution is held from 1 to 2:30 p.m. and 5 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays. The food is available in the loading dock area of the Campus Center, behind the Bookstore.

Both FOOD Share and Bags Of Hope are driven from the same thing: donations. FOOD Share, which is Ventura County’s largest food pantry, supplies the food while Bags of Hope coordinates the distribution.

Christine Nelson, along with David, is a co-founder and head of Bags of Hope. Bags of Hope was created May 2015 in hopes to create a better community. After forming the group, the Nelsons reached out to FOOD Share where officials there suggested two locations where they needed a food drive. A location along High Street in Moorpark was considered, but rejected.

“The second location Food Share gave us was Moorpark College, so I called Sharon Manakas and the ball got rolling,” said David.

On Wednesday evenings, Christine picks up the bakery goods then on Thursday mornings, she picks up all the hundreds of pounds of meat. Small things like cookies are paid for out of pocket.

Sam Metcalf-More, secretary of Bags of Hope, was friends with the Nelsons before she started helping them out because she believed she had to help people in need.

“It’s been different than what I anticipated,” said Metcalf-More. “Its changed throughout the one year we’ve been doing this. It’s become larger. We’re all in this journey together.”

The college distribution effort started on May 5 and only a few people attended the early shift that day. Recipients included some single parents, students and two small families.

The organizers said their goal is to increase awareness about this event. The Nelson family expects the food drive to grow each week.

“We just want the opportunity to give back,” said David.