John Gorham John Gorham knows what it means to be down and out.

He grew up with a roof over his head in Thousand Oaks, but eventually found himself a homeless single father of two in need of local food bank Manna’s services. He later became Manna’s executive director and for three years made sure that thousands of those in need were fed until he left Manna a couple of months ago.

The 46-year-old said he had a calling to use his talents to help others in unfortunate circumstances. He wanted to be there for them, to help them lift themselves up.

At Manna, Gorham did more than collect and hand out food. He got to know his clients. He analyzed how they came to be there. By talking to them and understanding their needs, he directed them to other local organizations to help them find housing, medical care and other necessities.

This past year, Gorham has buried close family members. He’s struggled with his own health issues. He left Manna and found a new way to assist those in need.

Gorham has created Communities and Residents Exchanging Solutions, or Conejo Valley CARES.

“I’ve joined with a group of civic-minded individuals who want to back me in establishing Conejo Valley CARES, a nonprofit one-stop shop for social services to help our residents get back on their feet in these most troubling of times,” Gorham said.

He said he’ll use his experience to help people in ways that haven’t been done in the Conejo Valley before.

“We’re going to help people. We’re going to build relationships with groups already helping people and provide services that aren’t currently available.”

Gorham understands what those services are after years of listening to those in need and trying to match their needs with what is offered. Sometimes there just weren’t solutions.

“The greatest need we have today is for the middle class, who haven’t ever been in the position of needing help like this,” he said.

They don’t know what to do or where to go.

To help them, he’s looking for a few angels. Not people in long white robes with wings. Quite the opposite. One type of angel could be a bearded man in a greasy jumpsuit.

“We need mechanics who could donate two hours of labor a month,” he said.

The working poor who are just barely getting by can start spiraling downward if their vehicle breaks down. With no money to repair it, they can no longer get to work. Without work, there’s no way to buy food or pay rent. The next thing they know, they’re homeless.

Gorham wants to match needs with those willing to help out. It could be children who need school supplies or a charity that needs a van, he said.

“We also need financial planners and accountants willing to adopt a family and help them set a budget,” Gorham said.

They could also use employers willing to take a chance on someone with good abilities but no formal training.

“We want to encourage and help people to take personal responsibility,” Gorham said.

For more information, call (805) 368-9829 or e-mail jp@conejovalleycares.org.

The group’s website is www.conejovalleycares.org.