`WE'LL GIVE TO ANYBODY, AS LONG AS THEY NEED IT, OR CAN USE IT TO HELP RAISE FUNDS' : GROUP NOURISHES BODIES, SELF-IMAGES.

Byline: Dennis McCarthy 

To get a good fix on David Kaye, picture in your mind the character James Garner played in the movie ``The Great Escape.''

A procurer, the guy who could get you anything, anytime. No sweat. That's Dave.

He runs a full service supermarket out of a Northridge warehouse that only opens its doors two days a week, Tuesdays and Thursdays - and only for people who can't afford what Dave's not selling.

He's giving it away. You name it, Dave gives it. From soup and nuts to Nomo balls and nail polish.

The only proviso is that the people in your nonprofit organization, religious group or school can use it or need it.

Prove that to Dave, and you can back your car or truck up to his dock. On Tuesday morning, for example, a van from Christ Centered Church in South Central Los Angeles was parked at the dock when Dave opened for business at 10 a.m.

Waiting in line behind it, were cars and vans from the Valley Interfaith Council, Emelita Elementary School, Church of the Way, Pacific Boys Lodge, Van Nuys Seventh-day Adventist Church and the Children's Hunger Fund.

Posted up on the wall, right next to the dozens of thank-you letters from charitable groups and crayon drawings from grateful school kids, was a list of another dozen groups scheduled to shop at Dave's that afternoon.

``We're an equal opportunity giver,'' Dave says, walking through his supermarket warehouse loaded with boxes of food and goodies.

``We'll give to anybody, as long as they need it, or can use it to help raise funds for their organization.''

The ``we'' he's talking about is Encino B'nai B'rith Lodge 2278, a Jewish fraternal order. Dave serves as his lodge's chairman of community services, and official procurer.

``I don't know how he does it,'' says Sid Eiduson, also a lodge member, and Dave's right hand man in the supermarket.

``It amazes me sometimes on the things he comes up with. He's a magician.''

Actually not, Dave says. What he is, though, is a well connected man - a guy who was in the frozen food business in Reseda for 45 years, and has learned all the ins and outs on how to put the gentle arm on somebody for charity, always with a smile on his face.

His motto, he says proudly, is ``Don't throw it away - call Dave Kaye.''

``I'm either out making calls in person or on the phone four hours a day, minimum,'' he says, as a delivery truck pulls up to the dock.

It's loaded with five pallets of matsah, soy milk and cereals, and eight pallets of potato chips. All donated.

Where these items come from is a trade secret, Dave says. ``The companies themselves don't want their names used, don't want to be bothered,'' he says.

Besides the food staples that volunteers box up for low-income elderly and needy kids to take home with them from school, Dave's supermarket is loaded with pallets of nonfood items.

In one room, there are dozens of cases of nail polish, blush, face cream and lipstick that Dave gives to groups helping homeless women and children.

``Hey, they're human beings like the rest of us,'' Dave says. ``The homeless shouldn't just get the bare staples. Giving them some lipstick or face cream helps pick them up, makes them feel better.''

With the nail polish, face cream and lipstick, Dave will throw in some earrings and bracelets, too.

His lodge started this program 21 years ago by delivering Passover baskets to needy Jewish families, and there are poor Jews out there, Dave says.

``It just grew and expanded from there, until nine years ago, we had to move into a mini-storage. But we outgrew that four years ago, and moved in here.''

He walks into another large room filled with boxes containing 2,000 baseballs picturing Dodger pitcher Hideo Nomo, and bins filled with books and games - presents for needy kids.

There's also a pallet of boxes filled with expensive lead crystal wine glasses that will go to charities to use as door prizes or auction off to raise funds.

All the organizations that shop at Dave's must have nonprofit status clearance from the IRS, except schools - and even with that, Dave and a few of his lodge brothers go out and spot check that everything is going where it should be going.

``We've caught people selling our stuff,'' he says. ``There are many good people out there, but always one or two stinkers who spoil everything.''

If you want to see if you qualify to shop at Dave's supermarket, or are a company that wants to help stock his shelves, call the B'Nai B'rith district office at [phone] and leave your number. Dave will get back to you.

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PHOTO Dave Kaye keeps food, cosmetics and even baseballs in stock at the warehouse run by Encino B'nai Brith.

Tina Gerson/Daily News