High Desert helps children with winter coat drive

December 17, 2025

Staff from High Desert State Prison delivered 85 coats to Shaffer Elementary School in Litchfield as part of their annual winter coat drive, helping keep kids warm this winter.

For a decade, High Desert State Prison (HDSP) in Susanville has helped keep children warm through their annual winter coat drive.

HDSP Community Resources Manager Jolene Speers organized this year’s drive, collecting 85 coats for children at Shaffer Elementary School. The small school in Litchfield has roughly 250 students ranging in age from kindergarten through eighth grade.

“HDSP is happy to be able to support families and children in need,” said organizers. “This helps ensure children stay warm in Lassen County’s cold winters.”

Principal Joshua Blackburn was appreciative of staff’s efforts.

“There has been an influx of new kids to the school (who’ve moved into the) area this year who are in need,” he said. “They will greatly benefit from the coat drive. We are grateful for HDSP in our community. (We’re) lucky the staff are so giving to help our school when needed.”

Submitted by Lt. J. Micone

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