A Little-Known Resource at Ramona High School Helps Students in Need

Tucked inside the library at Ramona High School is a resource that some students may know well, but many in the community may not know exists.

The Ramona High School Care Closet provides students with clothing, shoes, backpacks, school supplies, snacks, food, toiletries and other necessities all at no cost.

What began several years ago with something as simple as fresh fruit has grown into a volunteer-run “one-stop shop” designed to help students have what they need to feel comfortable, cared for and ready to learn.

“The Care Closet kind of morphed,” said Cori McDonald, Ramona High School librarian and yearbook teacher.

About three or four years ago, McDonald began bringing oranges from the trees on her property to school.

“I have orange trees on my property and would bring them to school and the kids scarfed them down,” she said.

From there, the effort continued to grow.

A major turning point came in March 2024, when Marcie Laws of Generations Day Care and Archie’s Pantry stepped in to help create a dedicated space inside the library. Laws helped fund and establish a wall partition, allowing the school to create a designated area where items could be organized and made available to students.

McDonald said she could not have built the program without Laws’ support.

“She donated quite a bit to get us set up and structured,” McDonald said. “I appreciate her support. It’s a one-stop shop for kids.”

Today, the Care Closet offers far more than snacks.

Students can find gently used clothing and shoes, backpacks, school supplies, shelf-stable food, reheatable meals to take home, shampoo, conditioner, baby wipes and feminine hygiene products. The closet also keeps items that can meet unexpected needs such as pants for a student who unexpectedly starts their period or toiletries for a family experiencing homelessness.

The goal is to support students at Ramona High School, although students are also able to take items for younger siblings at home. The program is intentionally designed to be accessible without making students feel singled out. Items are generally available during school hours, although staff can work with students who need to access the closet at another time.

McDonald said the Care Closet is run by staff members on their own time and operates entirely through volunteers and donations. She often drives around town herself to pick up items that can help fill the shelves.

“It’s better to equip them so they can learn and succeed,” she said.

A community that gives back. One of the people who has quietly supported the Care Closet for years is San Diego Country Estates resident Lora Morel. Morel regularly donates clothing, including name-brand items her own children have outgrown. For years, she would simply drop the donations off at the school office. Recently, she was invited inside the library to see where those clothes ultimately go.

Seeing the Care Closet firsthand made the impact of those donations even more meaningful. Morel said she donates directly to the school because she knows what it feels like to grow up without having access to the things other children have. As someone who grew up in foster care, Morel remembers not having the opportunity to wear the clothes she wanted or felt were considered “cool.”

“I never had any of the cool clothes,” she said.

Knowing that Ramona High School can invite students into the Care Closet to choose clothing they like including name-brand items that might otherwise be out of their families’ budgets has made donating particularly meaningful to her.

“It’s such a blessing to those who can’t afford it,” Morel said.

She hopes more local residents will learn about the program and consider donating directly to the school. Rather than sending gently used teenage clothing to a thrift store, Morel said she would rather see those items go directly to local students who can use them.

The Care Closet is especially looking for clothing that teenagers would actually want to wear. McDonald said sweatpants and sweatshirts, particularly unisex styles, are always needed. The school is not looking for old clothing simply because it is no longer wanted. Donations should be clean, gently used, good quality and appropriate for teenagers.

“We want something a teenager would like,” McDonald said.

Community members who would like to donate can bring items to the Ramona High School front office.

The school also benefits from community members and local organizations that donate surplus items. Peter San Nicholas, for example, holds a free back-to-school giveaway each summer and brings remaining items to the school.

And when items aren't needed at Ramona High School, they don't go to waste. Extra donations are passed along to local organizations such as the Food and Clothes Closet or Archie’s Pantry so they can continue helping members of the community.

McDonald said the generosity of Ramona residents is one of the reasons the Care Closet has been able to continue growing.

“Our community is amazing,” she said. “If I ask the community for something, they always meet the need.”

Even as Ramona continues to grow, McDonald said the community still maintains the small-town spirit that makes programs like the Care Closet possible.

For students who may be quietly struggling, that generosity can mean more than simply receiving a sweatshirt, a backpack or a bag of food. It can mean knowing that someone in their community noticed a need and cared enough to help.



Sometimes, a little-known closet inside a school library can make a very big difference.