Agoura Hills : Food Drive Assists Families in Need

George Annino remembers delivering bags of groceries last holiday season to homes in upscale Agoura Hills neighborhoods, places you ordinarily wouldn’t think would have such people in need.

But such is life in suburbia these days, where for some the economic boom has faded, leaving breadwinners jobless and their families hungry.

Annino, who organized last year’s food delivery, is a retired businessman who has been involved in local charity work the past 14 years.

He says things seem to be getting worse, contrary to the image people have of well-to-do suburbia.

“More and more people are starting to realize that a lot of people are hurting out here,” he said. “Last year we serviced more than 500 families and individuals.”

Moved by the plight of their friends and neighbors, a group of local women joined Annino’s cause last year and now participate in his food drive.

Without local community-based efforts, the women say, the people would have nowhere to turn, in part because they fall through the social service safety nets, which are not designed to help people such as them.

“It’s hard to qualify for things like food stamps,” volunteer Cindy Tsumpes said.

And the families, who are not used to receiving charity, are leery about people finding out about their situation, the volunteers say, so all donations are made anonymously.

Food donations can be dropped off at Ralphs supermarket, California Federal Bank, First Federal Bank or Gary’s Auto Parts, all on Kanan Road in Agoura Hills. Checks and supermarket scrip should be made out to Optimist Club/Santa and mailed to Annino at 6682 Maplegrove St., Agoura Hills 91301.

For information, call Annino at (818) 991-1732 between 8 a.m. and noon on Monday, Wednesday or Friday.