The current economic crisis has brought an increasing number of people to the doors of Simi Valley's Care & Share to find relief, and the food bank is now calling on the community to help feed local families.

In the past four months, the number of families Care & Share serves has risen dramatically, jumping from about 350 or 400 families to almost 1,400, said food bank coordinator Veronica Rubio.

Rubio said the depressed economy has resulted in a decrease in donations to the food bank at the same time more people—mostly seniors, homeless, low-income individuals and single mothers—come to shop its shelves.

In her seven years at Care & Share, Rubio said, she has never seen such a dramatic increase in clients.

"It's a lot of people that have lost their jobs because of the economy," she said, adding, "We really are low in food, and we really need it to help these families."

To help boost the food bank's supply, Simi Valley Neighborhood Councils and Youth Council are holding an emergency food drive Sat., Nov. 15 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at several supermarkets throughout the city.

About two weeks ago, Care & Share made presentations to all the city's neighborhood councils to inform them of the food bank's situation. After hearing of the dire need for food, the neighborhood councils and the city's youth council rallied together to put on the emergency food collection.

Council members will set up dropoff bins outside six Simi markets and hand out a list of needed food and supplies to shoppers.

The participating markets are: Jons, Pavilions, Walmart, Trader Joe's, Vons at Yosemite and Los Angeles avenues, and Albertsons on Madera Road.

Toni Freeland, who sits on the executive board of Neighborhood Council No. 3, called the statistics staggering given the size of the community.

"Simi has 1,400 families that are hungry and are struggling to get the basic things we all need," she said. "We need to come together as a community . . . and help these neighbors right away."

While the food bank does receive some food from Oxnardbased FOOD Share, the county's regional food bank, and the USDA's Emergency Food Assistance Program, the shelves are still not full.

Rubio said food donations are always slow in the summer months while school is out, but monetary donations have dipped this year as well. Without funds, the food bank is unable to purchase goods even from places like Costco or 99¢ Only Stores, she said.

However, Rubio makes sure no one leaves empty-handed.

"I don't turn anybody away," she said. "Whatever we have, we give it to them."

And while the food bank is for Simi Valley residents only, she said that when people come from neighboring cities, she doesn't have the heart to turn them away. "I help them one time, and then I refer them to where they have to go," Rubio said.

Freeland said the ultimate goal of the emergency food drive is to collect enough food to last through the end of the year.

"The demand in this financial crisis could still increase, so we are looking to not only take care of this now, but a food bank is supposed to have enough supplies so that it can support families on an ongoing basis," she said.

Donations are always accepted in person at Care & Share, 5924 E. Los Angeles Ave., Unit F. The food bank is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information, call (805) 522-5676 or visit www.simivalley.org.