SIMI VALLEY SAMARITAN CENTER HELPS ADDICT GET BACK ON TRACK.

Byline: John Huddy Daily News Staff Writer

Four years ago, Chuck Culpepper found himself in dire straits, drifting from homeless shelter to homeless shelter, having lost his wife and business to a longtime drug addiction.

Although Culpepper is clean and sober today, he still comes to the Simi Valley Samaritan Center. These days, however, he comes to thank the people who helped him get his life back together and to support those who need help themselves.

``I have a very good life now,'' said Culpepper, who fought a drug habit for more than a decade. ``It was through that process of loss in my life that brought me to my knees one day and made me realize that I wanted to turn my life around.

``Now I have a place to live, a car, a fiancee and a job,'' he said. ``I wouldn't trade what I have today for anything.''

Culpepper is among the success stories of those helped by the Samaritan Center. Fortunately, volunteers at the facility were ready and willing to offer him support.

``We try to give people that come in here a hand to help themselves,'' said Jan Gageby, managing director of the Samaritan Center. ``The difficulty of helping people get their lives together depends on how much they're willing to help themselves.

``It takes little steps here and there. We've seen a few success stories like Chuck Culpepper,'' she said.

The Simi Valley Samaritan Center has been providing refuge and counseling for the homeless and area residents for the last four years. The center has a shower, kitchen, an answering service and mail center. A rehabilitation counselor and health services nurse visit monthly.

Homeless people who want to take a shower, eat a snack or make phone calls have full use of the centers' resources. Soap and personal hygiene products are distributed, as well as clean clothes. The center is open 7 to 11 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday and Thursday.

The center receives help from the community, such as the Banki and Karimi families of Westlake Village and Thousand Oaks, respectively, who hosted a Thanksgiving feast for homeless residents at the center.

``We have people and businesses that have done canned food drives, or have collected jackets and clothes for donation,'' said Gageby. ``We've really received a lot of support from our community. We do a public service here.''

The Samaritan Center is among the nonprofit charities participating in the Daily News' ninth annual Season of Sharing campaign. Readers can contribute directly to the charities, allowing them to help people during the holidays and throughout the year. The Daily News does not receive any of the money.

Since 1990, Season of Sharing has generated $217,000 in cash, and thousands more in services and merchandise from readers who wanted to help their less-fortunate neighbors.

If it wasn't for the local center, Culpepper wonders if he ever would have regained his strength and confidence to get off the street.

``I proclaim my recovery so that others can recognize that recovery is possible,'' he said. ``People shouldn't be given up on - they should be supported.''

HELPING HANDS

Shelter Partnership will sponsor its ninth annual Holiday Wish Project to help charitable and social service agencies obtain items they can't afford on their limited budgets.

Agencies throughout Los Angeles County have requested items like toiletries, underwear, computers, carpet-cleaning services and microwave ovens to meet the needs of their clients, said Anita Morales, donations distribution manager.

The agencies range from Children of the Night, a Van Nuys shelter for runaway youths, to the Los Angeles Family Housing Corporation's Valley Shelter in North Hollywood, which serves as a transitional facility for homeless families.

Last year more than 35 agencies received their wish items through the efforts of Shelter Partnership, a nonprofit organization that develops housing and resources for homeless people throughout Los Angeles County.

``These donations are so appreciated by front-line agencies serving the community's homeless,'' said Morales.

The San Fernando Valley agencies in the Holiday Wish Project have these items on their lists:

Catholic Charities-Loaves and Fishes in Van Nuys needs toiletries.

Children of the Night in Van Nuys needs underwear.

The Jewish Family Service/Family Violence Project needs one large microwave oven.

Haven Hills, a domestic violence center for women and children, needs one large-capacity refrigerator.

The Independent Living Center of Southern California, which works with people with disabilities, needs zippered sweat shirts.

The Los Angeles Family Housing Corporation's Valley Shelter needs the services of a commercial carpet cleaner to clean its living units.

On Your Feet, a rental advocacy and eviction prevention program, needs a plain paper fax machine for shelter use.

The Harbour-San Fernando Valley Mental Health Center needs an IBM-compatible computer for shelter use.

Women Advancing the Valley through Education, Economics and Empowerment, which runs a domestic violence transitional shelter for women and children, needs computer printers.

Women's Care Cottage, which offers social services for homeless and battered women and children, needs two 20-inch television-videotape recorder combinations.

Those interested in fulfilling a wish or who want more information can call Anita Morales at [phone], Ext. 23.

CAPTION(S):

Photo, Box

PHOTO Chuck Culpepper once used the Simi Valley Samaritan Center. Now, he comes back to help others overcome their troubles.

David Sprague/Daily News

BOX: HELPING HANDS (see text)