Community Event: Fundraiser

by Maureen Robertson, Ramona Sentinel

In an effort to purchase more gift certificates and toys suitable for older children, organizers of the Ramona Food & Clothes Closet’s annual Share Your Christmas effort had an idea: Sell tickets for an opportunity drawing basket.

The idea caught on and there are now seven baskets ranging in value from $385 to $550 with a combined value of about $3,000.

Vesna Curry, Ramona Food & Clothes Closet manager, attended Ramona Rotary Club’s luncheon meeting last Tuesday to explain the Share Your Christmas addition and to bring sheets detailing items in each of six baskets made possible by donations from businesses and individuals. During the meeting, Rotarian Patrick Osio with Ramona Disposal Service added a seventh basket: 12 months of free residential trash service or one roll-off dumpster.

The baskets are numbered and labeled: No. 1, Pamper Yourself; No. 2, Animal Lovers; No. 3, Action Pack; No. 4, Rev Your Engine; No. 5, Food Lovers; and No. 6, Indulgence. No. 7 is the Ramona Disposal donation. The baskets can be seen at Iron Pony Post, 803 Main St., and at Ramona Food & Clothes Closet during the Christmas Tree Lighting festivities on Saturday from 5 to 8 p.m.

Tickets for the opportunity drawings are $5 for five, $10 for 12, and $20 for 30 tickets. Tickets are available at Ramona Food & Clothes Closet, 773 Main St.; Iron Pony Trading Post; Ramona Elementary School Rummage Sale, 415 Eighth St., on Saturday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Ramona Ranch Winery, 23578 state Route 78, on Sunday, Dec. 2, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Christmas in Your Backyard at Ramona Community Center, 434 Aqua Lane, on Saturday, Dec. 8, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Vineyard Grant James, 25260 Old Julian Highway, on Sunday, Dec. 9, from noon to sunset; and Turtle Rock Winery, 18351 Woods Hill Lane, on Sunday, Dec. 16, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Share Your Christmas program is for those in need in Ramona and backcountry communities. Donation bins for toys and nonperishable foods are in Ramona Library, El Michoacan, Ramona Country Yarn, Packard, Ramona Family Naturals, Ramona Dental Group, Pamo Valley Winery, Affordable Treasures, Ramona Senior Center, San Vicente Golf Resort, ACE Hardware, Iron Pony Trading Post, Hay Co-op, Richardson Recycling, Ransom Brothers, Stage Presence Homes, Ramona MMA Center and Denny’s.

Curry recently thanked Stater Bros. Markets for its $3,000 grant for food and toys and The Church of Latter-day Saints for providing $660 worth of holiday food.

Ramona Food & Clothes Closet will hold its Share Your Christmas program at 773 Main St. on Dec. 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hundreds of children ages infant through 12 will receive a new unwrapped toy, food for their family and a small stocking stuffer. Pre-qualified parents come into the store to choose age appropriate gifts for their children. Signups for parents will be Dec. 1 and 6 from 10 a.m. to noon and 5 to 7 p.m. and Dec. 3, 4 and 5 from 10 a.m. to noon.

Curry may be contacted at 760-789-4458 for more information.

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