Our community is no different.  In fact, many people were in action while the recent fires were happening, some even and in spite of being in evacuation zones. 

To be honest, when I started looking into ways that our community was supporting first responders, families of the Borderline shooting victims, and evacuees of the fires, I became overwhelmed at the sheer breadth of the giving.  Every time I turned on the computer, I heard of another restaurant giving 15%, 20% or even 100% of their profits on a particular day to support those affected by the fires.

Likewise, I watched as other food-related businesses and individuals gave of their time and skills to organize, prepare and send out meals to first responders and displaced people in the county shelters.  To say that the giving of some in our community was generous would be something of an understatement; in many cases, it was downright inspiring.

They say the light shines brightest in the darkness.

To that end, I’d like to dedicate a bit of space to recognize some of the local businesses and people—about whom I’ve heard—who’ve gone above and beyond in supporting our first responders and helping out the people in our region during these trying times.  Here’s a shout-out to those in our area who’ve lent a hand and, in their own way, led the effort to bring our communities together.  From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for showing what Ventura County is made of.

Here’s sampling of what some have done to help out and to lead when many of us weren’t even sure what we could do:

Grabbagreen Thousand Oaks- Owner Dustin Wilson, who recently moved to Thousand Oaks from Ventura, kept the store open for the duration of the Woolsey Fire, despite most of his employees being evacuated.

On Friday, the day after the fires started, after he was evacuated from his home, he opened the store, handed out masks and fed first responders for free. 

By Saturday, he was offering free soup to the community and extended the first responders meals through the week and then until the fires were contained. 

On Sunday, he was accepting donations from the community and turning it into food for first responders on the job, medical personnel, (including the amazing ER staff who worked the night of the shooting), and any other local heroes who had been identified.  He also connected with business neighbor, Pilates Plus, which was giving away apparel to fire survivors who had lost homes.

Wilson continued providing platters of delicious farm-to-table food and free locally sourced soup for the duration of the fires, feeding hundreds through the cash donations he received. 

El Sancho Loco Taqueria, Newbury Park- On November 8, owner Joe Escobar donated catering services to help the families of the victims of the Borderline shooting.  The same day, he made about 200 burritos for the first responders “and anyone that’s hungry” and took them to the command post in Thousand Oaks. 

Friday morning, with the help of his beloved Tia (aunt), he provided hundreds of breakfast burritos to the first responders still working at Borderline and Los Robles Hospital. By 10am, he had opened a taco cart on Janss Road and the 23 freeway and fed first responders until 9pm. Once evacuations started, he offered the store as a place of refuge even before the kitchen opened. For the rest of the week, with the help of employees, family and lots of volunteer hours, he made thousands of burritos and delivered them to wherever he could find first responders, relying on the community to loan coolers to keep them warm and to keep him posted on where to deliver.  Because of his past relationships with many local youth sports teams, he has also been providing burritos at the Sports Academy for students whose schools had been closed for the week. 

It is worth note that while some have donated to the store and some vendors have offered him discounted rates, Escobar has done a majority of this out of his own pocket.

World Central Kitchen, led locally by Scratch Sandwiches owner Tim Kilcoyne, mobilized November 9, making fresh meals for first responders and evacuees from the Casa Pacifica Centers For Children & Families’ kitchen.  For the first 48 hours, the nonprofit organization made up of chefs and caterers donating time, took any volunteers who could make it, relying on social media to get the word out. Since then, they and many, many volunteers have worked tirelessly to provide thousands of meals throughout the areas affected by the fires.  On Sunday, November 18, when they decided to downsize operations, Nicole Valdivia, owner of The Cave in Ventura, offered her kitchen to continue to serve those displaced. 

Ladyface Ale and Brasserie, in Agoura Hills, not only fed first responders for free but also, in collaboration with a Santa Clarita brewery, is brewing a special ale called “Backbone IPA-Strength in Community” that will be used to raise funds for two Ventura County charities to help the Woolsey Fire survivors.

Studio Movie Grill, Simi Valley’s general manager, Nolan Kreager, offered to employ any employees of Borderline Bar and Grill who are currently out of work while the restaurant is closed.

FiveO7 The Coffee Bar and Eatery, Thousand Oaks-Open only a year, this popular coffee shop was right in the middle of a mandatory evacuation zone and did have to close for a couple days.  Additionally, they had just about every staff member somehow affected by the shooting and the fires, including at least one who lost their home.  Owners Sean and Amber McCarthy, in keeping with their mission of community, opened for three hours on Friday night, Nov. 9, in the middle of the evacuations, just to allow people to gather together to renew spirits.  Sunday, November 18, they hosted a tribute night with local artists to raise funds for all those affected by the Borderline shooting. They also donated hundreds of coffees to first responders and evacuees with the help of dozens of community volunteers who offered to deliver and supply carafes.  Donations have been given to Ventura County Community Foundation and Raklife, both nonprofits with excellent reputations for doing great work in the wake of tragedy.

The following restaurants donated percentages of profits and/or fed first responders for free during the fires:

• Mission Burrito, Simi Valley
• Lemmo’s in Moorpark and Westlake
• Command Performance Catering
• Red’s, Simi Valley
• Café Firenze, Moorpark
• Nonna, Westlake Village
• Brendan’s Irish Pub and Restaurant, Camarillo, Newbury Park
• Joi Café, Westlake Village
• Five Threads Brewing Company, Westlake Village
• D’Amore’s Pizza, Thousand Oaks
• Brent’s Deli, Westlake
• Side Street Café, Newbury Park
• CiCi’s, Westlake Village
• Fresh and Fabulous Café, Oxnard
• Stonefire Grill, Thousand Oaks
• Restaurants in Regal Cinema Plaza, Simi Valley
• Shake Shack, Westlake Village

We would love to hear from you!  Do you know of a restaurant or food service company that didn’t make it to our list? We love to hear stories about our inspiring community. Email us at info@edibleventuracounty.com and we will add them.

--Tami Chu