Local Charities Hit Post-Holiday Slump

Catholic Charities’ Moorpark office overflowed with food, toys and clothing earlier this month, goods that the community donated to help the area’s less fortunate.

But Christmas has come and gone, and most of the donated goods went with it. The United Way agency’s 1st Street office now faces the situation many nonprofit organizations find themselves in every Dec. 26: getting through the lean months that follow the holiday season.

“For example, right now we have a storage container full of clothing,” said caseworker Ruben Castro. “We’ll be giving that clothing within the next two weeks, then the clothing donations will drop off a bit.”

Castro said the post-holiday drought in contributions, which usually lasts until March, is a reflection of the community’s economic situation, not its heart.

Care and Share Director Willa Dobbs said donations at the Simi Valley food bank drop by about 45% in the first couple months of each year.

She said the food bank usually takes in enough before Christmas every year to carry it through the lean months.

“We did so well through Christmas that we have enough to last us through March,” she said. “I count my plan on approximately 500 families a month and, looking at that number and what I have, I’m fine.”

Like Castro, Dobbs said contributions will pick up again in March when people begin gearing up for Easter and Passover.