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Charities say the best donation for Southern California fire victims is money.

Disaster-response organizations are unable to accept or collect individual donations such as clothes, shoes and toys during major emergencies, Red Cross officials said Wednesday.

Agencies like St. Vincent De Paul, Goodwill or the Salvation Army are better equipped to get quality used goods to needy families, they said.

Here are some of the agencies collecting donations for fire victims, their phone numbers and Web sites:

- Red Cross donation drive-through for those affected by fires, 4:30-7 p.m. today, Camarillo Park N' Ride off the Pleasant Valley/Santa Rosa exit (south side of Highway 101); checks should be made out to American Red Cross (in memo line, designate where the donation should go, such as San Diego fires, Ventura County, Southern California wildfires, etc.); information: 987-1514, ext. 317. Checks can also be dropped off at local offices: 2355 Portola Road, Ventura; or 836 Calle Plano, Camarillo.

- American Red Cross, 800-733-2767, www.californiavolunteers.org, for people who want to volunteer or donate items. Go to www.redcross.org, call 800-REDCROSS or 800-257-7575 (Spanish) for monetary donations.

- The United Way of Ventura County, Marisa Lopez at 485-6288, ext. 276, or www.volunteerventuracounty.org/volunteer. Click on "Click here to see how you can help."

- Meathead Movers, 412 Calle San Pablo, Suite 200, Camarillo, is collecting emergency supplies from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today. Donated items must be new. Eyedrops, hand sanitizers, cots, air mattresses, water, baby care products and other items are needed. For more information, call Aaron Steed or Erin Cromwell at 544-6328.

- San Diego American Red Cross: 858-309-1200, www.sdarc.org/donate.Designate option 2 - San Diego/Imperial Counties Local Disaster Fund to support the Harris/Witch Creek response operations.

- Orange County American Red Cross: 714-481-5300, www.oc-redcross.org. Businesses interested in making bulk donations of needed items may call 714-481-5370.

- Los Angeles American Red Cross: 800-435-7669,

www.redcrossla.org/index.php. Corporations and businesses interested in making in-kind donations may call 800-746-5463.

- San Diego Food Bank: 866-350-3663, www.sandiegofoodbank.org.

- Goodwill Southern California: 888-4-GOODWILL, www.goodwillsocal.org.

- Salvation Army Southern California: 213-896-9160, www.salvationarmysocal.org

- Governor's Office of Emergency Services: 800-750-2858, www.californiavolunteers.org. Open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

- Los Angeles Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: 888-SPCA-LA1, www.spcala.com.