GROUP GROPING TO AID OTHERS IN FIRE'S AFTERMATH; MAY BLAZE HIT CATHOLIC CHARITIES HARD.

Byline: Paul O'Donoghue Daily News Staff Writer

Catholic Charities Manager Ruben Castro got good news this past week - a phone line in the organization's temporary digs would be installed later that day.

Then he remembered that the phone handset had been destroyed - along with the group's stock of food and just about everything else - in a May 29 electrical fire that gutted the agency's office and pantry.

``I must go home and get my own phone,'' Castro said.

The charity has been without a headquarters and a phone and Castro still appears dazed since the fire, which officials said caused about $150,000 damage to the single-story wooden building and $25,000 to the contents, including 6,000 cans of food.

But things are beginning to happen.

``We got food from FOOD Share,'' Castro said, pointing to some 3,000 pounds of beans, rice, pasta, cereals and canned goods that had arrived Wednesday from the food bank that supplies many charities in Ventura County.

Volunteers had sorted the foods from cardboard boxes into plastic crates stacked in the center of the former Holy Cross Chapel, the charity's temporary digs at Everett and Magnolia streets. More food is expected next week.

But Samaritan Center in Simi Valley, which regularly supplies goods to Catholic Charities, has been unable to make contact since the fire to determine what is needed, said Director Jan Gageby.

In fact, Castro said, communication has been very difficult. One of the things he needs most now is an answering machine to attach to the newly installed phone line.

The organization's client file - listing the names, addresses and phone numbers of the 500 to 700 families it served every week - was badly damaged, so Catholic Charities has no way of checking up on them. But some of them appear to be seeking help from other agencies.

Willa Dobbs, director of Care and Share in Simi Valley, has helped more than a dozen families in recent days, giving them a week's supply of food, including tuna, spaghetti, chili, cereals, rice, beans and hamburger.

Dobbs said at least two of the families were large - one with nine members, and the other with seven.

Heads of other charities in Ventura County said they were aware of the Catholic Charities fire but hadn't been approached for assistance - probably because many clients don't have access to cars.

HOW TO HELP

Moorpark United Methodist Church, 261 Flory Ave., is lending a hand to Catholic Charities, asking people to bring nonperishable food for the next two Sundays, or to drop off donations to the church office during the week. United Methodist also has called for volunteers to help transport food contributions from the church to A to Z Self Storage, which has donated space to Catholic Charities in the aftermath of the fire. For further information, contact Linda Moyer of United Methodist at [phone].