Beyond the Badge, Community Involvement

High Desert helps children with winter coat drive

High Desert State Prison staff delivered 85 coats to Shaffer Elementary School in Litchfield, California, during their annual winter coat drive.
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


Follow CDCR on YouTubeFacebookX (formerly Twitter). Listen to the CDCR Unlocked podcast.

See more community involvement stories.

Related content

A team of correctional professionals from San Quentin Rehabilitation Center (SQRC) and California State Prison, Solano defended their title at the 2026 United States Police & Fire Championships, earning back-to-back gold medals in the 3-on-3 basketball tournament.

San Quentin Jailblazers capture back‑to‑back gold

A team of correctional professionals from San Quentin Rehabilitation Center (SQRC) and California State Prison, Solano, defended their title at the…

A parole staff member pitches the ball at the DAPO softball tournament benefiting Special Olympics of Northern California.

DAPO softball game pitches in for Special Olympics

CDCR’s Division of Adult Parole Operations (DAPO) hosted its second softball fundraising event July 11 to support Special Olympics Northern…

Teams representing San Quentin Rehabilitation Center pay their respects during the opening ceremony honoring fallen correctional professionals.

Solano Fallen tourney raises over $12,500 for staff, families

Correctional professionals, law enforcement partners and community supporters came together to raise more than $12,500 during the recent Solano Fallen Resource…

Salinas Valley State Prison staff members participate in the first Cancer Awareness Walk held July 2-3 at the prison in Soledad, California.

Salinas Valley State Prison hosts first Cancer Awareness Walk

Salinas Valley State Prison in Soledad proudly hosted its first-ever Cancer Awareness Walk for staff and the incarcerated population. The…

Two CDCR correctional officers won medals at the US National Police and Fire Championship in San Diego, California, June 2026.

CDCR, CCHCS show up at US Police and Fire Championship

Staff from CDCR and California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) showed up at the recent US Police and Fire National…

A CDCR recruitment unit staff member with a bike along with a California Medical Facility staffer at an X-Games booth in Sacramento.

Rolling toward the future: CMF, RCS join forces at X Games

The CDCR Recruitment and Career Services (RCS) Unit brought community engagement to new heights at the X Games Sacramento, transforming…