On Saturday, Nov. 9, Ruben Castro Charities and Food Share of Ventura County partnered to distribute free food and essential items to local families in Parking Lot E of Moorpark College.
At 12:30 p.m., volunteers began assisting hundreds of vehicles lined around the parking lot—a significant increase from the usual Saturday turnout. This increase was driven by the impact of the Mountain Fire, which has led to widespread evacuations, road closures and severe structural damage.
According to Cal Fire, the Mountain Fire began the morning of Nov. 6 and quickly spread to scorch 20,640 acres of local terrain, devastating residents of the Camarillo, Moorpark, Santa Paula and Somis areas.
The extensive damage led to Governor Gavin Newsom proclaiming a state of emergency in Ventura County to enact federal financial assistance, as well as local charitable organizations jumping into action with food pantry services and evacuation shelters.
Operating out of Oxnard, Food Share of Ventura County is a member of the Feeding America network, providing 16 million meals annually to residents. Moorpark’s Ruben Castro Charities has been present on campus for several years through their “Grab and Go Groceries at Moorpark College” program hosted every Saturday from 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.
“Moorpark College and Ruben Castro Charities have come together to address the hunger needs of the campus and its surrounding communities. Students and families are welcome to come and choose from foods from local grocery stores, food banks, and local farms,” their website states.
With a set protocol in place, cars visited the food pantry station one at a time, meeting with volunteers who helped each car pick up enough groceries depending on their family size. Attendees were given a supply of fresh produce, dry goods, wheat products and non-perishables.
Stationed beneath a canopy of tents, cohorts of volunteers coordinated tasks quickly, ensuring that every car present would get a chance to receive their groceries. These volunteers included members of the younger generation, with students from local elementary, middle and high schools lending a helping hand.
Omkar Lagala, a junior from Oak Park High School, frequently volunteers with Food Share in Oxnard and encourages his classmates to give back by promoting the Food Share Community Service Club at school.
“It means a lot to me because I know there’s a lot more people in more unfortunate situations than me, and that’s why I started the club,” Lagala said. “I wanted more people, like more of my peers, to also join and help as many people as we can.”
After visiting the food pantry, cars were directed to the lower section of Lot E, where a span of essential items, ranging from toiletries, clothes, baby formula and toys could be personally selected by families.
Ally Webb, a Moorpark resident, chose to volunteer after seeing a Food Share advertisement on Facebook asking for extra help.
“In addition to the 400 [families] that they usually get, they were expecting an influx of people from the Mountain Fire. So I’m here sorting, distributing and helping guide people and just to volunteer,” Webb explained.
Webb spoke first-hand with individuals experiencing devastation from the fire and offered assistance finding shoes or clothes that would properly fit them. She further explained her calling to give back given her proximity to the destruction.
“My family and I, we live in Moorpark, and we are here by the grace of God, and the fire could have come over this way, and it didn’t,” Webb said. “It could have easily been any of us who’ve lost everything. So you know, my family and I, we just wanted to help. You know, there are different ways of giving, and giving time is just the one way that we wanted to be able to do it.”
Isabella Rodriguez, a Camarillo resident, also helped distribute baby formula, diapers and shoes to families in need. Growing up, her parents stressed the importance of giving back during difficult times, as they relied on assistance programs like Food Share growing up.
“I know people personally who were affected by the [Mountain] Fire and fires in the past, so just being able to do something, to be here helping, it’s very rewarding,” Rodriquez said. “I feel guilty still having my house up while other people, their houses are burned to the ground.”
Students still seeking food access and basic resources can visit Raider Central on campus Monday through Friday in the Student Service Annex (SS), 112. Hours of operation and more details about their assistance programs can be found here.
“Anyone taking at least one unit of classes at Moorpark College is free [to] stop by and select up to five food items a day, five days per week. We offer a wide variety to choose from like canned goods, fresh fruit, ready-to-eat snacks, frozen meals, common cooking ingredients, and more,” according to their webpage.
Ruben Castro Charities will be back on campus every Saturday as scheduled, continuing their food pantry services on Nov. 16 at 12:30 p.m. Food Share will be hosting another emergency food distribution on Wednesday, Nov. 12, in Oxnard from 2-4 p.m. at College Park.
For any questions on the “Grab and Go Groceries at Moorpark College” program, email [email protected] or call Ruben Castro Charities at (805) 529-4620. To get involved, click here for volunteer opportunities.
