Conejo Valley shelter program will open soon

2009-11-19 / Community

By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com

Places of worship and individuals throughout Thousand Oaks who’ve been working with Lutheran Social Services to provide meals for those less fortunate will soon expand their services.

On Tues., Dec. 1 the winter shelter will open at the same sites that have been providing homecooked meals every night for individuals and families in need. There’s one exception: Thursday nights will switch from Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, at 588 Camino Manzanas, to the Chinese Christian Church at 218 W. Janss Road.

For those who are spending the night, check-in time at a winter shelter is 8 p.m. “If they come after 8 p.m., they don’t get in,” said Diana Ortuno, shelter director.

She also wants to remind those who plan to come to the shelter to be sure to have updated TB test records, a requirement of the state.

Those who are also coming for dinner can check in at 5:45 p.m.

The dinner program continues year-round. Recently it’s been attracting 50 to 100 people each night—sometimes even more, Ortuno said.

“We recommend . . . the dinner program to those who come to us for help. It helps them save their food money so they can pay their rent and not become homeless,” Ortuno said.

Sometimes, even that doesn’t help. She knows of several families with children who are living in their cars and are coming to the dinner programs. These are people with jobs but not enough money for rent.

They also come to Lutheran Social Services for showers, she said.

“It says something about the economy that so many people are coming out for dinners,” she said.

The group is preparing for larger numbers staying overnight, too.

“People like you and me— regular, hardworking people—are finding themselves facing homelessness and are changing their attitudes pretty quickly about people who are homeless,” Ortuno said.

Dinner sites until Dec. 1

Monday: Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 1 W. Avenida de Los Arboles, Thousand Oaks

Tuesday: Calvary Community Church, 5495 Via Rocas, Westlake Village

Wednesday: Westminster Presbyterian Church, 32111 Watergate Road, Westlake Village

Thursday: Emmanuel Presbyterian Church of Thousand Oaks, 588 Camino Manzanas, Thousand Oaks

Friday: United Methodist Church, 1000 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks

Saturday: St. Julie Billiart Catholic Church, 2475 Borchard Road, Newbury Park

Sunday: Temple Adat Elohim, 2420 E. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks

Dinner and Overnight

Winter Shelter sites

Dec. 1- March 31