Charity drives in Ramona aim to help those in need

Several organizations and charities are hoping Ramona residents will be especially generous this year, so that everyone will be able to have food, clothing, toys and more this holiday season.

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The annual Share Your Christmas event is being held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18 at the Ramona Food and Clothes Closet, 773 Main Street.

Donations of toys, canned goods, gift cards and cash are being accepted during business hours in-store or the drive through until Monday, Dec. 15. For details, call 760-789-4458.

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The Riviera Oaks Racquet Club is accepting donations of new, unwrapped toys until Monday, Dec. 15 to be distributed by the Ramona Food and Clothes Closet. The club is at 25382 Pappas Road. For details, call 760-788-7711.

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The ADMA Elite Training’s 11th annual Toy and Gift Card Drive runs through Monday, Dec. 15. It is collecting toys and gift cards for children and teenagers, which will be distributed through the Ramona Food and Clothes Closet.

By bringing a toy, donors also receive a chance to win a nine class punchcard for the gym’s bootcamps. The ADMA gym is at 1530 Main Street, Suite 7. For details, call 760-214-6866.

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Ramona High School, Ramona Junior Chamber of Commerce and National Honor Society are hosting their annual food and toy drive. New, unwrapped toys and non-perishable food items will be accepted until Thursday, Dec. 11 for distribution through the Ramona Food and Clothes Closet.

Donation boxes are in the front office at Ramona High School, 1401 Hanson Lane, and the Ramona Unified School District office, 720 9th Street. For details, call 760-787-4000.

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Regina Flores Real Estate Group is holding its holiday food drive. It is collecting food items, including canned goods, boxed and dry foods, breakfast, snacks, pantry essentials, family and kid-friendly foods for the Ramona Food and Clothes Closet. A collection box, available 24/7, is at 745 Main Street. For details, call 619-606-3513.

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Anytime Fitness is holding a toy drive through Saturday, Dec. 13. It is collecting new toys with tags for all ages of children, as well as gift cards for teens and cash donations for the Ramona Food and Clothes Closet.

Gift cards and cash should be taken to the Anytime Fitness office; all other items can be taken to the collection box on the training floor. The gym is at 850 Main St. Suite 202. For details, call 760-315-4040.

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The eighth annual R-Town Toy Drive, held in honor of Luis Barragan and Jeanette Valdez, is accepting donations of new, unwrapped toys for any age child until Sunday, Dec. 21.

Donations can be made at Best Care Pharmacy in the Sun Valley Shopping Center, 1306 Main Street, Suite 102 at any time. There is also a donation bin at Amber Ramirez, Farmers Insurance, 603 Main Street. All presents will be donated to the children of Ramona Headstart and their families. For details, contact Lily Bates at 760-390-4879.

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The Ramona Airport is hosting a Toys for Tots drive in partnership with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Needed are new, unwrapped toys such as bikes, games, dolls and stuffed animals. Bring to the Ramona Airport, 2450 Montecito Road, until 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13. Upon arrival, call 760-788-3366 and someone will come out to accept donations.

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Ramona Barn Owls/Scott Lee Rudge Construction Inc. is hosting a Toys for Tots Drive. Donors are asked to purchase a stuffed plush owl from Ramona Barn Owls, which will be donated to Toys for Tots. For each $100 spent, both Ramona Barn Owls and Scott Lee Rudge Construction will donate an extra plushie owl or new toy.

Donors can purchase from the website, RamonaBarnOwls.com or direct by calling 760-315-0714.

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Peter San Nicolas at The Brokerage will be giving out up to 150 stockings stuffed with small toys, school supplies and candy for children under age 18 until Friday, Dec. 12.

Donations of cash or stocking stuffers are being accepted for even more stockings.

At 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13 children can pick up their stocking, enjoy hot chocolate and snacks, and take a free photo with Santa and Mrs. Claus. The Brokerage is at 1174 Main Street. For details, call 760-788-7355.

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Little Pathfinders Preschool is hosting a baby clothing drive for Gently Hugged. It needs new and gently-used baby clothes, sizes 0 to 12 months, for distribution through local hospital organizations.

The preschool is also accepting gently-used Halloween costumes for children and adults for local distribution prior to Halloween 2026.

Donations for both drives will be accepted until Friday, Dec. 12. The Little Pathfinders Preschool is at 520 16th Street. For details, call 619-805-7999.

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The Ramona Women’s Clinic Adopt-A-Mom program is collecting items such as clothing, diapers, bedding and supplies for local women who are pregnant or have a baby under 1 year.

Donations will be accepted until 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15 at 1530 Main Street, Suite 6. For details, call 760-789-7059.

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Realtor Justin Shaw’s ninth annual gift card drive is in partnership with the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3783. Needed are gift cards for food, gas, big box retailers and similar businesses for Ramona military families.

Drop off at RE/MAX Direct, 1410 Main Street or call 858-775-6251 for pickup.

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Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3783 is hosting a gift card drive through Sunday, Dec. 14. Bring gift cards to VFW Post 3783, 2247 Kelly Ave. It is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

The Riders Group is also seeking donations such as socks, shirts, toothpaste, soap, deodorants and similar items (no razors) for the local Veterans Affairs Hospital. Donations will be accepted until mid-December at VFW Post 3783. For details, call 760-789-7888.

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The Shelly Heimer/H5 Financial 10th annual Adopt-A-Family Drive runs through Tuesday, Dec. 16. This year, four families are participating. Bring donations to H5 Financial, 311 12th Street.

For details on the families, visit tinyurl.com/H5-drive25 or call 760-789-7385.

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Twenty students from Ramona High School have been chosen as recipients of the school’s Giving Tree.

Sponsors can come to the school’s front office, 1401 Hanson Lane, between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on weekdays and pick a number from the tree, which corresponds to a list of requested items ranging from clothes and shoes to activities and gifts for their siblings and other family members.

All gifts should be purchased and delivered by Wednesday, Dec. 17. For details, call Jodi Chapp at 760-787-4012.

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The Gym in Ramona is collecting items until Tuesday, Dec. 16 for the Ramona High School Care Closet, which offers the items for free to students in need.

Needed are new unwrapped personal hygiene items, toiletries, hair care, individual snacks, sweatshirts, sweatpants, leggings, T-shirts, beanies, gloves, socks and underwear.

The Gym will donate two of their “Bulldog” memberships, one each to a male and female Ramona High School student nominated by the school.

Bring items to The Gym, 558 Main Street. For details, call 760-789-3500.